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Memorial service honors Four Chaplains

  • Published
  • By Lawrence Lyford
  • NAVAIR Lakehurst Public Affairs Office
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Joint base chaplains opened the Cathedral of the Air for the New Jersey American Veterans National Service Foundation (AMVETS) March 6, 2013, for the annual Four Chaplains Memorial Service here.

The service commemorated the actions of four chaplains who gave their lives to save four soldiers on a torpedoed troopship in the North Atlantic in 1943. Two Legion of Honor Medals were also awarded to two AMVETS members for life-saving recognition.

"The base has supported our use of the Cathedral of the Air for over 30 years," said James Spreng, AMVETS Department of New Jersey commander. "All the commanders have given us the best place to honor the Four Chaplains in a dignified manner and the Cathedral even has a stained glass window commemorating them."

Fred Vineyard, AMVETS Department of New Jersey first vice commander and National District One commander greeted the 50 AMVET members and guests attending. The post-9/11 honor guard posted the colors afterward. Samuel Hayes led in the Pledge of Allegiance and William Mead, AMVETS Department of New Jersey executive director, sang the National Anthem. Chaplain (Capt.) Doug Hess JB MDL staff chaplain gave the commanding officer's welcome and benediction. Joint base community members attended in addition to one member who was 103 years old.

A well-choreographed candle-lighting ceremony was conducted as Edward Bednarek, AMVETS Department of New Jersey chaplain, spoke. AMVET officials made comments about each deceased chaplain following the candle lighting. (Catholic) Father John Washington, (Dutch Reformed) Reverend Clark Poling, Rabbi Alexander Goode and the (Methodist) Rev. George Fox were the four chaplains remembered. They gave their lives early in the morning Feb. 3, 1943, on the U.S. Army Transport ship, Dorchester, 150 miles from Greenland, so that four young soldiers without life jackets could live.

The AMVETS Department of New Jersey posthumously awarded all four chaplains the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second highest military award, and the Purple Heart. They were also awarded a unique Four Chaplain's Medal, an award designed never to be awarded again, in 1960.

Two AMVET members received the AMVET Legion of Honor Award for life saving at the conclusion of the memorial service.

Lou Rosso of Egg Harbor, N.J., 71, dove into the Atlantic Ocean to rescue two children, 30 yards from shore, who were caught in an undertow after lifeguards closed the beach.

"As soon as I saw the little girl flailing in the water, she seemed to look right at me, like she was screaming at me begging for help. Getting my arms around them, I thought I have a life in each hand," said Rosso.

Marcia A. Thibeault of Mount Holly, N.J., heard shots outside her local supermarket and ran past those scurrying for cover to an armored-truck guard who was shot four times. She administered immediate first aid without regard for her safety. Local police credit her with saving the man's life. She was a first responder with a local EMT for 15 years and volunteer with a local fire company for 25 years.