1 00:00:17,101 --> 00:00:17,621 Speaker 1: Pushkin. 2 00:00:23,741 --> 00:00:27,901 Speaker 2: Hello everyone, Malcolm Glabel here. The primary instinct of every 3 00:00:27,901 --> 00:00:31,981 Speaker 2: living thing on our planet is self preservation in moments 4 00:00:32,021 --> 00:00:35,260 Speaker 2: of danger. Our own survival is wired into us so 5 00:00:35,421 --> 00:00:39,020 Speaker 2: deeply it's nearly impossible for our brains to override it. 6 00:00:39,980 --> 00:00:42,580 Speaker 2: To do that, to consciously give your life, you have 7 00:00:42,661 --> 00:00:45,581 Speaker 2: to be set in your convictions. You'd have to believe 8 00:00:45,620 --> 00:00:48,820 Speaker 2: against every instinct and synapse in your brain that what 9 00:00:48,861 --> 00:00:52,181 Speaker 2: you're doing is right. We're going to end the season 10 00:00:52,301 --> 00:00:54,581 Speaker 2: of Medal of Honor with the story of four men 11 00:00:54,621 --> 00:00:58,501 Speaker 2: who did just that. There were four chaplains from different 12 00:00:58,581 --> 00:01:03,380 Speaker 2: religious backgrounds who became unlikely friends. In their short time together, 13 00:01:03,700 --> 00:01:07,181 Speaker 2: their collective faith galvanized and inspired the men around them. 14 00:01:07,941 --> 00:01:10,621 Speaker 2: They differed in many of their beliefs, but aligned on 15 00:01:10,621 --> 00:01:13,621 Speaker 2: one that to serve God, they would have to serve 16 00:01:13,741 --> 00:01:19,821 Speaker 2: others over themselves. This is their story. 17 00:01:22,461 --> 00:01:26,261 Speaker 1: It was just before one am on February third, nineteen 18 00:01:26,420 --> 00:01:30,780 Speaker 1: forty three, ten foot waves were turning the icy waters 19 00:01:30,780 --> 00:01:34,500 Speaker 1: of the North Atlantic. A ship named the Dorchester was 20 00:01:34,541 --> 00:01:38,300 Speaker 1: carrying American soldiers across the ocean to fight in World 21 00:01:38,340 --> 00:01:42,181 Speaker 1: War II. They were headed to Greenland, a strategic base 22 00:01:42,220 --> 00:01:45,381 Speaker 1: for the Allies. They were only about one hundred and 23 00:01:45,461 --> 00:01:49,781 Speaker 1: fifty miles from their destination. But now the ship was sinking. 24 00:01:51,541 --> 00:01:55,061 Speaker 1: It was mayhem on the deck. Soldiers raced to the lifeboats. 25 00:01:55,461 --> 00:01:59,180 Speaker 1: They scrambled for life preservers. Men pushed towards the railing 26 00:01:59,341 --> 00:02:03,221 Speaker 1: as the giant ship listed to one side. The Dorchester 27 00:02:03,381 --> 00:02:08,141 Speaker 1: was breaking apart around them. Some gi screamed and wept 28 00:02:08,181 --> 00:02:11,981 Speaker 1: as they slid down ropes and dropped into the free waves. 29 00:02:12,501 --> 00:02:16,501 Speaker 1: But four men stood calmly among the chaos. Each wore 30 00:02:16,541 --> 00:02:20,701 Speaker 1: the uniform of an officer, but they weren't soldiers. There 31 00:02:20,701 --> 00:02:25,501 Speaker 1: were four Army chaplains, each of a different faith. The 32 00:02:25,501 --> 00:02:28,941 Speaker 1: soldiers knew them well, they loved them, and now they 33 00:02:28,981 --> 00:02:33,421 Speaker 1: watched as the chaplains started to pray. The four chaplains 34 00:02:33,541 --> 00:02:41,460 Speaker 1: were going down with the ship. I'm j R. Martinez 35 00:02:41,581 --> 00:02:45,661 Speaker 1: and this is Medal of Honor Stories of Courage. The 36 00:02:45,661 --> 00:02:48,541 Speaker 1: Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration in the 37 00:02:48,621 --> 00:02:53,141 Speaker 1: United States. It's awarded for gallantry and bravery and combat 38 00:02:53,421 --> 00:02:56,181 Speaker 1: at the risk of life, above and beyond the call 39 00:02:56,221 --> 00:02:59,701 Speaker 1: of duty. Each candidate must be approved all the way 40 00:02:59,781 --> 00:03:02,821 Speaker 1: up the chain of command, from the supervisory officer in 41 00:03:02,861 --> 00:03:06,021 Speaker 1: the Field to the White House. This show is about 42 00:03:06,061 --> 00:03:09,621 Speaker 1: those heroes, what they did, what it meant, and what 43 00:03:09,701 --> 00:03:15,181 Speaker 1: their stories tell us about the nature of courage and sacrifice. 44 00:03:15,301 --> 00:03:18,141 Speaker 1: In this episode, we're going to meet the four Chaplains 45 00:03:18,181 --> 00:03:23,261 Speaker 1: of the USS Dorchester. Two Protestant ministers, one Catholic priest, 46 00:03:23,581 --> 00:03:27,141 Speaker 1: and one Jewish rabbi. They were men of peace who 47 00:03:27,181 --> 00:03:30,301 Speaker 1: decided to serve in World War Two as a commitment 48 00:03:30,341 --> 00:03:34,461 Speaker 1: to themselves, to the country, and to their God. They 49 00:03:34,461 --> 00:03:36,741 Speaker 1: did everything in their power to help the more than 50 00:03:36,861 --> 00:03:41,741 Speaker 1: nine hundred men traveling on the Dorchester. The four Chaplains 51 00:03:41,741 --> 00:03:45,541 Speaker 1: didn't receive the Medal of Honor for their actions. Instead, 52 00:03:45,781 --> 00:03:50,581 Speaker 1: they were awarded a special and unique decoration, the Congressional 53 00:03:50,701 --> 00:03:54,461 Speaker 1: Medal of Valor. But I think they deserve a place 54 00:03:54,501 --> 00:03:57,581 Speaker 1: in this podcast because they are just as heroic as 55 00:03:57,581 --> 00:04:01,261 Speaker 1: to other people we've met this season. The four Chaplains 56 00:04:01,301 --> 00:04:05,541 Speaker 1: had different beliefs, they worshiped in different ways, but each 57 00:04:05,621 --> 00:04:09,181 Speaker 1: of them proved that selflessness is at the very heart 58 00:04:09,301 --> 00:04:26,621 Speaker 1: of courage. On January twenty third, nineteen forty three, the 59 00:04:26,741 --> 00:04:30,621 Speaker 1: USS Dorchester arrived in New York Harbor. It was a 60 00:04:30,661 --> 00:04:35,101 Speaker 1: former passenger ship, sleek and elegant. It had once taken 61 00:04:35,141 --> 00:04:38,781 Speaker 1: wealthy travelers from New York to Miami. In those days, 62 00:04:38,981 --> 00:04:42,821 Speaker 1: it even had a casino. It sure wasn't luxurious anymore. 63 00:04:43,421 --> 00:04:47,101 Speaker 1: This was wartime and every seaworthy boat had been refitted 64 00:04:47,101 --> 00:04:52,581 Speaker 1: for military service. Those roulette wheels were long gone. Now 65 00:04:52,901 --> 00:04:55,381 Speaker 1: GI's were going to pack in like sardines and get 66 00:04:55,381 --> 00:04:58,181 Speaker 1: taken to fight. Most of the nine hundred and two 67 00:04:58,221 --> 00:05:02,381 Speaker 1: people aboard were headed to southwestern Greenland. It had airfields 68 00:05:02,381 --> 00:05:05,501 Speaker 1: that were key for battling the Nazis in Europe. The 69 00:05:05,621 --> 00:05:08,461 Speaker 1: journey was going to be dangerous because those North Atlantic 70 00:05:08,501 --> 00:05:13,901 Speaker 1: waters were swarming with Germany U some Maarines that moved 71 00:05:13,941 --> 00:05:18,461 Speaker 1: in wolf packs. Allied ships traveled in convoys for safety, 72 00:05:18,781 --> 00:05:22,421 Speaker 1: but they didn't always go fast enough, and the Dorchester 73 00:05:22,741 --> 00:05:26,461 Speaker 1: wasn't known for its speed. A young soldier named Benjamin 74 00:05:26,501 --> 00:05:29,541 Speaker 1: Epstein looked at it with a queasy filling. 75 00:05:30,341 --> 00:05:32,621 Speaker 3: I know, I've heard it said that the ship was 76 00:05:32,701 --> 00:05:37,301 Speaker 3: called the suicide ship. It was an extremely slow boat. 77 00:05:38,981 --> 00:05:43,101 Speaker 1: Four officers stood by the gangplank welcoming soldiers on board. 78 00:05:43,621 --> 00:05:46,981 Speaker 1: They all had pins on their lapels, three war crosses, 79 00:05:47,541 --> 00:05:50,901 Speaker 1: and one wore Hebrew tablets under a Star of David. 80 00:05:51,621 --> 00:05:55,301 Speaker 1: They were army chaplains there to support troops both on 81 00:05:55,661 --> 00:06:00,260 Speaker 1: and off the battlefield. More than nine thousand ministers, priests 82 00:06:00,341 --> 00:06:05,021 Speaker 1: and rabbi served during the war, giving spiritual support, rescuing 83 00:06:05,061 --> 00:06:09,421 Speaker 1: the wounded and burying the dead. They were unarmed, but 84 00:06:09,501 --> 00:06:14,101 Speaker 1: they were essential. The four chaplains of the Dorchester couldn't 85 00:06:14,141 --> 00:06:17,461 Speaker 1: have been less alike. For one thing, they were all 86 00:06:17,461 --> 00:06:20,421 Speaker 1: of different faiths. This was at a time when people 87 00:06:20,421 --> 00:06:25,341 Speaker 1: from different religions didn't mix that much. James Mcatney was 88 00:06:25,381 --> 00:06:27,341 Speaker 1: another young soldier on the Dorchester. 89 00:06:28,181 --> 00:06:30,981 Speaker 4: I was raised as a Catholic in an Irish neighborhood, 90 00:06:31,501 --> 00:06:34,301 Speaker 4: and I don't think I'd be very far away from 91 00:06:34,341 --> 00:06:36,580 Speaker 4: the truth if I were to say that the pastor 92 00:06:36,621 --> 00:06:39,141 Speaker 4: of our church wouldn't have been caught dead talking to 93 00:06:39,941 --> 00:06:40,981 Speaker 4: a Protestant minister. 94 00:06:42,381 --> 00:06:46,221 Speaker 1: Here were these four chaplains who came together from different backgrounds, 95 00:06:46,661 --> 00:06:50,661 Speaker 1: but all shared a deep desire to serve. To James, 96 00:06:50,941 --> 00:06:53,621 Speaker 1: they seemed to fit together like pieces of a puzzle. 97 00:06:54,221 --> 00:06:57,820 Speaker 4: To see these men in shame uniform but of different 98 00:06:57,861 --> 00:07:02,421 Speaker 4: faiths getting together and actually talking and smiling and laughing 99 00:07:02,421 --> 00:07:04,181 Speaker 4: and joking each other was unheard of. 100 00:07:05,861 --> 00:07:09,501 Speaker 1: The oldest of the group was George Fox and Methodist minister. 101 00:07:10,301 --> 00:07:13,141 Speaker 1: George had a babyface and a mild manner, but he 102 00:07:13,181 --> 00:07:16,461 Speaker 1: was a survivor. He'd been abused by his dad and 103 00:07:16,501 --> 00:07:19,301 Speaker 1: had escaped by joining the army in World War One 104 00:07:19,661 --> 00:07:23,781 Speaker 1: at the age of seventeen. He lied about his age 105 00:07:23,821 --> 00:07:26,741 Speaker 1: to get in. He'd been a medic and was decorated 106 00:07:26,741 --> 00:07:29,661 Speaker 1: with the Silver Star for his bravery, but the war 107 00:07:29,941 --> 00:07:34,341 Speaker 1: left him with lingering injuries. Even so, when World War 108 00:07:34,421 --> 00:07:38,501 Speaker 1: II began, he was determined to rejoin the army. By 109 00:07:38,541 --> 00:07:40,741 Speaker 1: then he was a minister, so he would serve as 110 00:07:40,781 --> 00:07:44,541 Speaker 1: a chaplain. He left a wife and daughter back in Vermont, 111 00:07:44,781 --> 00:07:48,901 Speaker 1: and his teenage son had joined the Marines. Ed Dion, 112 00:07:49,141 --> 00:07:52,301 Speaker 1: another soldier on the Dorchester, remembered him well. 113 00:07:52,581 --> 00:07:55,541 Speaker 5: He was small in stature, but then by the same 114 00:07:55,621 --> 00:07:58,781 Speaker 5: token he was big and things he did. The very 115 00:07:58,861 --> 00:08:02,941 Speaker 5: fact that Reverend Vox had medaled from World War One, well, 116 00:08:02,981 --> 00:08:04,901 Speaker 5: that gave you a little idea as to how he 117 00:08:04,981 --> 00:08:07,541 Speaker 5: earned them was through taking care of somebody else. 118 00:08:09,021 --> 00:08:10,701 Speaker 1: George was on the ship with one of his best 119 00:08:10,701 --> 00:08:15,621 Speaker 1: f friends, Rabbi Alex Good. Alex was thirty one, a 120 00:08:15,661 --> 00:08:19,101 Speaker 1: decade younger than George, and he served in the military too, 121 00:08:19,341 --> 00:08:22,901 Speaker 1: in the National Guard. Alex had a wife and toddler 122 00:08:22,941 --> 00:08:26,181 Speaker 1: waiting for him in Pennsylvania, but that hadn't stopped him 123 00:08:26,181 --> 00:08:29,261 Speaker 1: from volunteering for the army. He was ready to fight 124 00:08:29,301 --> 00:08:33,061 Speaker 1: for democracy and he wanted to go straight to the battlefields. 125 00:08:33,621 --> 00:08:36,901 Speaker 1: His wife, Teresa knew he was set on serving no 126 00:08:37,021 --> 00:08:37,901 Speaker 1: matter the cost. 127 00:08:38,701 --> 00:08:41,141 Speaker 6: When I said goodbye to him, I had a feeling 128 00:08:41,221 --> 00:08:44,181 Speaker 6: in my heart that he would not come back. It 129 00:08:44,300 --> 00:08:47,381 Speaker 6: was a very difficult goodbye, and I looked at him 130 00:08:47,501 --> 00:08:49,501 Speaker 6: through the windows of the train. I was crying, and 131 00:08:49,540 --> 00:08:53,060 Speaker 6: he was crying, and I knew I'd never see him again. 132 00:08:53,460 --> 00:08:55,181 Speaker 6: I just felt it in my heart. He was a 133 00:08:55,221 --> 00:08:59,221 Speaker 6: selfless individual. He couldn't do enough for anyone, and a 134 00:08:59,341 --> 00:09:03,861 Speaker 6: very kind man, but a strong man, had strong principles 135 00:09:04,420 --> 00:09:05,501 Speaker 6: and he lived by them. 136 00:09:09,221 --> 00:09:12,141 Speaker 1: George and Alex had met during chapter training at Harvard 137 00:09:12,180 --> 00:09:15,461 Speaker 1: Divinity School, and as they waited to be sent overseas, 138 00:09:15,901 --> 00:09:20,021 Speaker 1: they met two other chaplains. One was John Washington, a 139 00:09:20,101 --> 00:09:24,220 Speaker 1: Roman Catholic priest. The other was Clark Polling, a minister 140 00:09:24,341 --> 00:09:28,621 Speaker 1: of the Dutch Reformed Church. Clark was a pastor in Schenectady, 141 00:09:28,660 --> 00:09:31,780 Speaker 1: New York, with a wife, a toddler, and a baby 142 00:09:31,820 --> 00:09:35,581 Speaker 1: on the way. His dad was a famous evangelical preacher, 143 00:09:35,820 --> 00:09:38,861 Speaker 1: and his brother Dan was a minister too. I guess 144 00:09:38,861 --> 00:09:42,100 Speaker 1: it was the family business. Dan said that his brother 145 00:09:42,180 --> 00:09:44,300 Speaker 1: Clark was always looking deeper. 146 00:09:45,141 --> 00:09:50,101 Speaker 7: He was born an inquirer, a questioner. The things that 147 00:09:50,180 --> 00:09:54,740 Speaker 7: he heard, he inquired about and searched to know their 148 00:09:54,780 --> 00:09:58,061 Speaker 7: meaning and their purposes. He thought that he would be 149 00:09:58,101 --> 00:10:02,021 Speaker 7: a lawyer, and he finally came to accept the fact 150 00:10:02,060 --> 00:10:05,420 Speaker 7: that he was intended by Almighty going to be a 151 00:10:05,501 --> 00:10:06,621 Speaker 7: minister clergyman. 152 00:10:08,221 --> 00:10:11,100 Speaker 1: John Washington, on the other hand, knew he wanted to 153 00:10:11,141 --> 00:10:13,701 Speaker 1: be a priest from the time he was in middle school. 154 00:10:14,221 --> 00:10:16,861 Speaker 1: He grew up in a big and lively Irish Catholic 155 00:10:16,940 --> 00:10:20,861 Speaker 1: family in Newark, New Jersey. When Pearl Harbor was attacked, 156 00:10:20,981 --> 00:10:23,741 Speaker 1: he wanted to enlist, but he'd been hit in the 157 00:10:23,780 --> 00:10:25,780 Speaker 1: eye with a bbie when he was a kid, so 158 00:10:25,820 --> 00:10:30,141 Speaker 1: he wasn't sure he'd be able to. Somehow he managed 159 00:10:30,141 --> 00:10:33,061 Speaker 1: to fake his way through the physical We've heard that 160 00:10:33,221 --> 00:10:37,980 Speaker 1: story before. John was just one of the guys and hilarious. 161 00:10:38,580 --> 00:10:40,541 Speaker 1: Here's the soldier ed Dion again. 162 00:10:40,981 --> 00:10:44,221 Speaker 5: Father Washington probably told more stories than anybody I've ever heard. 163 00:10:44,221 --> 00:10:47,660 Speaker 5: He kept ongoing. He had a good irish with two. 164 00:10:49,101 --> 00:10:52,141 Speaker 1: The four chaplains hit it off immediately, and as soon 165 00:10:52,180 --> 00:10:55,221 Speaker 1: as the journey began they got to work caring for 166 00:10:55,341 --> 00:10:58,901 Speaker 1: the men on board. The chaplain shared a room, but 167 00:10:58,940 --> 00:11:02,021 Speaker 1: they were barely in it. They held services for their 168 00:11:02,060 --> 00:11:06,780 Speaker 1: different faiths. They organized the talent show, but James Mcatney 169 00:11:06,940 --> 00:11:09,700 Speaker 1: remembers their comfort and support most of all. 170 00:11:10,341 --> 00:11:13,901 Speaker 4: You'ven seen him at all hours, not just me lower, 171 00:11:14,060 --> 00:11:17,740 Speaker 4: but wherever there was a gathering of any sort, one 172 00:11:17,820 --> 00:11:20,220 Speaker 4: or more of than would be around, you know, filling 173 00:11:20,261 --> 00:11:25,220 Speaker 4: in and talking and joking and participating. They had tremendous 174 00:11:25,261 --> 00:11:28,341 Speaker 4: empathy with what most of us were going through, the 175 00:11:28,460 --> 00:11:32,940 Speaker 4: uncertainty and the fear and all the other sentiments. 176 00:11:34,940 --> 00:11:38,141 Speaker 1: About nine days after the ship set sail, their job 177 00:11:38,180 --> 00:11:42,501 Speaker 1: got harder. The Dorchester was rocked by a terrible storm, 178 00:11:43,141 --> 00:11:43,860 Speaker 1: the worst. 179 00:11:43,580 --> 00:11:46,021 Speaker 8: Storm in fifty years in the North Atlantic. 180 00:11:47,180 --> 00:11:50,581 Speaker 1: Ernie Heaton was a soldier on the Dorchester and nineteen 181 00:11:50,660 --> 00:11:54,301 Speaker 1: at the time. He found the storm so terrifying that 182 00:11:54,381 --> 00:11:56,501 Speaker 1: he clearly remembered it decades later. 183 00:11:57,261 --> 00:12:00,780 Speaker 8: I'm telling you that ship was all over that ocean 184 00:12:01,460 --> 00:12:04,861 Speaker 8: waves forty foot waves break clear over the bow of 185 00:12:04,861 --> 00:12:09,101 Speaker 8: that ship, and it was cold, and I start building 186 00:12:09,180 --> 00:12:10,101 Speaker 8: up on that ship. 187 00:12:11,820 --> 00:12:14,060 Speaker 1: The outside of the ship was covered in a thick 188 00:12:14,101 --> 00:12:18,861 Speaker 1: blanket of ice. Inside men were throwing up furniture flew. 189 00:12:19,621 --> 00:12:22,860 Speaker 1: Three men were seriously injured, and two of the chaplains 190 00:12:22,901 --> 00:12:25,901 Speaker 1: carried them to their bunks and bandaged them. The two 191 00:12:25,981 --> 00:12:29,460 Speaker 1: others walked the ship, offering crackers and fruit to the men. 192 00:12:30,540 --> 00:12:34,381 Speaker 1: And there was another bigger problem. The storm meant that 193 00:12:34,420 --> 00:12:38,901 Speaker 1: the Dorchester was moving even slower, and sonar had picked 194 00:12:38,940 --> 00:12:41,580 Speaker 1: up evidence that they were being followed by a pack 195 00:12:41,621 --> 00:12:46,821 Speaker 1: of German submarines. That night, John Washington led Catholic Mass 196 00:12:46,861 --> 00:12:50,581 Speaker 1: in the dining hall after all enemy ships meant the 197 00:12:50,621 --> 00:12:53,700 Speaker 1: men were at risk of death. They would need all 198 00:12:53,741 --> 00:12:56,821 Speaker 1: the prayers they could get, But he didn't limit his 199 00:12:56,940 --> 00:13:00,341 Speaker 1: pastorship to Catholics. Here's ed Dion again. 200 00:13:01,060 --> 00:13:04,381 Speaker 5: We all knew that torpedo was out there somewhere, and 201 00:13:04,420 --> 00:13:06,940 Speaker 5: he came around. Didn't make any difference who they were. 202 00:13:07,420 --> 00:13:09,981 Speaker 5: He said, all of you know the Lord's prayer. Poydon 203 00:13:10,101 --> 00:13:13,981 Speaker 5: sang it, saying whatever he said, it'll help you. And 204 00:13:14,021 --> 00:13:16,261 Speaker 5: that was the only time that I ever saw that 205 00:13:16,341 --> 00:13:20,381 Speaker 5: he brought his religion in the rest of the time, 206 00:13:20,460 --> 00:13:22,941 Speaker 5: he was just a man who wanted to take care 207 00:13:22,981 --> 00:13:23,700 Speaker 5: of other men. 208 00:13:25,700 --> 00:13:28,941 Speaker 1: By the late evening, the storm died down, but now 209 00:13:28,981 --> 00:13:31,501 Speaker 1: that the seas had calmed, the threat from the U 210 00:13:31,540 --> 00:13:36,261 Speaker 1: boats got worse. Ernie Heaton remembers an announcement coming over 211 00:13:36,300 --> 00:13:37,101 Speaker 1: the loudspeaker. 212 00:13:37,741 --> 00:13:43,021 Speaker 8: Captain come on and said, everybody is to stay fully dressed, 213 00:13:43,141 --> 00:13:48,501 Speaker 8: absolutely fully dressed with life jackets. We've got soundings of 214 00:13:48,580 --> 00:13:51,421 Speaker 8: subs in the area and we're going to do everything 215 00:13:51,460 --> 00:13:53,141 Speaker 8: we can to keep them away from us. 216 00:13:54,540 --> 00:13:57,420 Speaker 1: The message was clear. They were all at risk of 217 00:13:57,460 --> 00:14:01,621 Speaker 1: being blown into the icy water. So not only were 218 00:14:01,660 --> 00:14:05,461 Speaker 1: life preservers important, but everyone needed to wear all of 219 00:14:05,501 --> 00:14:11,300 Speaker 1: their clothes, hats, gloves, and shoes as insulation against cold. 220 00:14:12,221 --> 00:14:15,660 Speaker 1: The water was around thirty four degrees. You could only 221 00:14:15,700 --> 00:14:19,781 Speaker 1: survive in it for twenty or thirty minutes, even less 222 00:14:19,981 --> 00:14:23,981 Speaker 1: if you weren't fully dressed. But many of the men 223 00:14:24,061 --> 00:14:27,861 Speaker 1: didn't listen. Their bunk rooms were stuffy and hot, and 224 00:14:27,901 --> 00:14:30,941 Speaker 1: nobody wanted to stay in their heavy winter gear all night, 225 00:14:31,460 --> 00:14:36,061 Speaker 1: and life fests weren't exactly comfortable. And remember most of 226 00:14:36,101 --> 00:14:41,181 Speaker 1: these soldiers were eighteen nineteen twenty years old. I remember 227 00:14:41,221 --> 00:14:44,141 Speaker 1: being nineteen years old and feeling like nothing is going 228 00:14:44,221 --> 00:14:48,581 Speaker 1: to happen. They told themselves they only had to make 229 00:14:48,621 --> 00:14:51,421 Speaker 1: it to daylight. Then they would be close enough to 230 00:14:51,460 --> 00:14:56,101 Speaker 1: Greenland that Allied planes would escort them to safety. They 231 00:14:56,301 --> 00:15:15,340 Speaker 1: just had to make it through the night. By midnight 232 00:15:15,381 --> 00:15:19,941 Speaker 1: on February third, nineteen forty three, life on the USS 233 00:15:20,101 --> 00:15:24,261 Speaker 1: Dorchester felt almost normal. Yes, they were being tailed by 234 00:15:24,381 --> 00:15:28,781 Speaker 1: Nazi submarines, but safety was waiting in Greenland, only one 235 00:15:28,861 --> 00:15:33,021 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty miles away. After the storm ended and 236 00:15:33,061 --> 00:15:36,381 Speaker 1: the warnings went out over the loudspeakers, the guys just 237 00:15:36,861 --> 00:15:40,460 Speaker 1: did what they usually did. Here's Ernie Heaton again. 238 00:15:41,061 --> 00:15:45,021 Speaker 8: We were playing cards all evening. The ship had settled 239 00:15:45,061 --> 00:15:48,301 Speaker 8: down some, it wasn't bouncing around like it was, and 240 00:15:48,701 --> 00:15:51,581 Speaker 8: I had lost twenty bucks. So I said, hey, yes, enough. 241 00:15:52,301 --> 00:15:55,381 Speaker 8: So I went to my own room and I sat 242 00:15:55,421 --> 00:15:58,221 Speaker 8: down on my bunk and I said, darn it, I 243 00:15:58,261 --> 00:16:01,821 Speaker 8: haven't even had my shoes off for five days. I'm 244 00:16:01,861 --> 00:16:03,821 Speaker 8: going to at least take my shoes off. You know, 245 00:16:04,381 --> 00:16:06,541 Speaker 8: if I just went over like this to take my 246 00:16:06,661 --> 00:16:10,021 Speaker 8: shoes off, and the next thing you know, there was 247 00:16:10,061 --> 00:16:14,181 Speaker 8: a big and that's when that torpedo hit. 248 00:16:16,341 --> 00:16:21,181 Speaker 1: It was twelve fifty five am. Immediately the lights went out. 249 00:16:21,541 --> 00:16:25,501 Speaker 1: It was pitch black. The steam pipes broke, the bunks 250 00:16:25,541 --> 00:16:29,421 Speaker 1: went down like a house of cards. The torpedo had 251 00:16:29,501 --> 00:16:33,021 Speaker 1: hit close to the engine room. Dozens of men died 252 00:16:33,101 --> 00:16:37,221 Speaker 1: on impact. A flood of icy water roared into the 253 00:16:37,261 --> 00:16:38,701 Speaker 1: lower compartments. 254 00:16:39,101 --> 00:16:42,661 Speaker 8: When that torpedo hit, it penetrated the ship and then 255 00:16:42,821 --> 00:16:46,740 Speaker 8: exploded inside the ship, and it split that chip open 256 00:16:46,821 --> 00:16:50,860 Speaker 8: from blow the waterline clear to the top deck. It 257 00:16:51,101 --> 00:16:54,381 Speaker 8: just started to break it apart. And the next thing, 258 00:16:54,421 --> 00:16:56,981 Speaker 8: you know, in a very short period of time, it 259 00:16:57,021 --> 00:16:59,941 Speaker 8: had already started the list. 260 00:17:00,061 --> 00:17:01,901 Speaker 1: Ernie knew he had to get out of his bunk 261 00:17:01,981 --> 00:17:05,021 Speaker 1: room and up to the deck. The torpedo had hit 262 00:17:05,061 --> 00:17:08,781 Speaker 1: the refrigeration system, so toxic fumes hung in the air. 263 00:17:09,261 --> 00:17:11,100 Speaker 8: As soon as I stepped out that door, there or 264 00:17:11,261 --> 00:17:15,261 Speaker 8: whifts of amonia coming up out of that station. Now 265 00:17:15,701 --> 00:17:17,981 Speaker 8: it's getting hard to breathe, but I had to go 266 00:17:18,181 --> 00:17:21,061 Speaker 8: halfway the length of that ship to go onto the bow. 267 00:17:23,221 --> 00:17:26,301 Speaker 1: There were three Coastguard cutters traveling in the convoy with 268 00:17:26,381 --> 00:17:31,141 Speaker 1: the Dorchester, but without electricity, the Dorchester couldn't signal that 269 00:17:31,181 --> 00:17:34,741 Speaker 1: they had been hit. The ship blew its whistle six 270 00:17:34,941 --> 00:17:38,941 Speaker 1: times and then the steam ran out. Aside from a 271 00:17:38,941 --> 00:17:42,621 Speaker 1: few flashlights, the only lights that work were little blinking 272 00:17:42,661 --> 00:17:44,741 Speaker 1: ones on the men's life jackets. 273 00:17:45,221 --> 00:17:47,701 Speaker 8: You couldn't say hand in front of your face, although 274 00:17:48,141 --> 00:17:51,301 Speaker 8: every life jacket had a red light on it, and 275 00:17:51,381 --> 00:17:53,461 Speaker 8: all you had to do was reach up and twist 276 00:17:53,541 --> 00:17:56,181 Speaker 8: it and you had a red light that they could 277 00:17:56,181 --> 00:17:56,661 Speaker 8: find you. 278 00:17:58,261 --> 00:18:00,941 Speaker 1: In the dark hold of the ship, where the bunks were. 279 00:18:01,181 --> 00:18:03,981 Speaker 1: The halls were blocked by soldiers fighting to get out. 280 00:18:04,781 --> 00:18:09,941 Speaker 1: Up on the deck, it was chaos, clanging bells, emergency sirens, 281 00:18:10,381 --> 00:18:15,261 Speaker 1: men sh The soldiers had assigned lifeboat stations. There should 282 00:18:15,261 --> 00:18:19,101 Speaker 1: have been plenty for everyone, but because the ship was tilting, 283 00:18:19,541 --> 00:18:24,341 Speaker 1: some of the lifeboats weren't usable. Others were frozen solid 284 00:18:24,421 --> 00:18:28,261 Speaker 1: to the boat men piled into the few that did work. 285 00:18:28,861 --> 00:18:33,661 Speaker 1: Soon they were massively overcrowded, capsizing as they hit the waves, 286 00:18:34,661 --> 00:18:36,501 Speaker 1: So the men left on the ship were told to 287 00:18:36,541 --> 00:18:39,421 Speaker 1: get into the water. Either they could jump from the 288 00:18:39,461 --> 00:18:42,261 Speaker 1: deck or shimmy down ropes into the waves. 289 00:18:42,941 --> 00:18:45,821 Speaker 8: They already told us that you couldn't live over a 290 00:18:45,901 --> 00:18:48,821 Speaker 8: half hour in that water. If they tell you to 291 00:18:48,901 --> 00:18:51,701 Speaker 8: cut a rope, let it slide into the ocean and 292 00:18:51,741 --> 00:18:52,941 Speaker 8: then jump in after it. 293 00:18:54,341 --> 00:18:58,101 Speaker 1: Everyone was panicking trying to find a lifeboat or life 294 00:18:58,181 --> 00:18:59,941 Speaker 1: raft that still had space. 295 00:19:00,581 --> 00:19:03,461 Speaker 8: As I'm trying to push my way through. This is 296 00:19:03,501 --> 00:19:07,221 Speaker 8: where I saw the four chappas. They're telling everybody go 297 00:19:07,341 --> 00:19:10,501 Speaker 8: to your station, Please, go to your station. But there 298 00:19:10,541 --> 00:19:13,941 Speaker 8: was guy scream and I can't swim, and it was 299 00:19:14,061 --> 00:19:17,061 Speaker 8: just you can't imagine what it was like. 300 00:19:17,301 --> 00:19:17,941 Speaker 9: Was horrible. 301 00:19:18,101 --> 00:19:22,901 Speaker 1: Yes, the four chaplains were on deck together. They were 302 00:19:22,901 --> 00:19:26,541 Speaker 1: handing out life preservers and giving out instructions, trying to 303 00:19:26,661 --> 00:19:31,101 Speaker 1: keep the men calm. It was an impossible task. Navy 304 00:19:31,101 --> 00:19:32,941 Speaker 1: Gunner Roy Summers was on the deck. 305 00:19:33,541 --> 00:19:37,100 Speaker 10: One of the boys had the chaplain almost by the 306 00:19:37,181 --> 00:19:40,621 Speaker 10: neck and hanging on to him and it's just screaming 307 00:19:41,101 --> 00:19:43,741 Speaker 10: and this chaplain has shaking him some and trying to 308 00:19:43,741 --> 00:19:47,061 Speaker 10: get his attention, and tried to talk to him and 309 00:19:47,141 --> 00:19:49,701 Speaker 10: tell him to get on the fall line. Keep a 310 00:19:49,741 --> 00:19:52,141 Speaker 10: prayer on your lips and I'll be praying for you. 311 00:19:53,861 --> 00:19:56,501 Speaker 1: Ernie noticed something else about the chaplains. 312 00:19:56,981 --> 00:19:59,741 Speaker 8: They didn't have a red light on and I wonder 313 00:19:59,741 --> 00:20:01,421 Speaker 8: why I didn't put that red light on, And when 314 00:20:01,421 --> 00:20:04,141 Speaker 8: I got closer, they didn't have their life jackets on. 315 00:20:05,901 --> 00:20:08,661 Speaker 1: There was a reason for this. Many men had gone 316 00:20:08,741 --> 00:20:11,861 Speaker 1: to sleep without their life jackets, and after the attack 317 00:20:12,141 --> 00:20:15,181 Speaker 1: they had left them down in the bunks. The Chaplains 318 00:20:15,221 --> 00:20:17,461 Speaker 1: were giving out all the life preservers they can get 319 00:20:17,501 --> 00:20:21,461 Speaker 1: their hands on. A private named Charles Mackley watched them. 320 00:20:21,861 --> 00:20:24,981 Speaker 11: They were handed out life jackets. You know, they even 321 00:20:25,021 --> 00:20:25,901 Speaker 11: gave up their own. 322 00:20:27,181 --> 00:20:30,100 Speaker 1: In fact, the Chaplains gave up everything they could to 323 00:20:30,181 --> 00:20:33,421 Speaker 1: the men on that ship. One man later said he 324 00:20:33,461 --> 00:20:36,221 Speaker 1: had gotten to the deck and realized his gloves were 325 00:20:36,261 --> 00:20:39,261 Speaker 1: back in his cabin, so Alex Good took off his 326 00:20:39,421 --> 00:20:43,261 Speaker 1: own gloves and gave them to him. The four Chaplains 327 00:20:43,301 --> 00:20:47,021 Speaker 1: weren't thinking about their own survival. As the freezing waters 328 00:20:47,061 --> 00:20:50,381 Speaker 1: slashed over the deck, they called out words of encouragement. 329 00:20:51,061 --> 00:20:55,501 Speaker 1: They calmly ordered terrified men to save themselves, but they 330 00:20:55,501 --> 00:20:58,181 Speaker 1: didn't try to take a spot on a lifeboat or 331 00:20:58,341 --> 00:20:58,941 Speaker 1: swim away. 332 00:20:59,581 --> 00:21:02,301 Speaker 11: In fact, I told his Catholic chaplain, I said, finally 333 00:21:02,301 --> 00:21:04,581 Speaker 11: get off the ship. The ship was going down. Still 334 00:21:04,661 --> 00:21:07,100 Speaker 11: reallyased to do it, though, as I got off the 335 00:21:07,141 --> 00:21:10,821 Speaker 11: ship when I went down on a rope that were joining 336 00:21:11,021 --> 00:21:13,581 Speaker 11: has Afford of the wall together. It just stayed there 337 00:21:13,781 --> 00:21:16,661 Speaker 11: and the water was starting to come into the main deck. 338 00:21:17,701 --> 00:21:19,701 Speaker 11: They made no attempt to get off the ship at all. 339 00:21:21,821 --> 00:21:24,021 Speaker 1: The men on the lifeboats and rafts had gotten as 340 00:21:24,061 --> 00:21:27,381 Speaker 1: far from the sinking ship as they possibly could. If 341 00:21:27,381 --> 00:21:30,341 Speaker 1: they stayed too close, they could have gotten sucked down 342 00:21:30,381 --> 00:21:34,741 Speaker 1: with it. Benjamin Epstein, the guy who called the Dorchester 343 00:21:34,861 --> 00:21:38,621 Speaker 1: a suicide ship, made it to a lifeboat from a 344 00:21:38,701 --> 00:21:41,581 Speaker 1: spot on the water. He took a last look back. 345 00:21:42,221 --> 00:21:45,621 Speaker 3: As I turned around, I saw a sight that will 346 00:21:45,661 --> 00:21:51,141 Speaker 3: forever be with me. It was the Dorchester making its 347 00:21:51,221 --> 00:21:54,461 Speaker 3: last lurch into the water, and it looked like a 348 00:21:54,541 --> 00:21:59,141 Speaker 3: Christmas tree, because that little red light represented a soldier. 349 00:22:00,381 --> 00:22:03,340 Speaker 3: They were soldiers hanging on to the rail of the 350 00:22:03,381 --> 00:22:07,701 Speaker 3: ship who were too frightened. Not that I can blame them. 351 00:22:07,941 --> 00:22:09,941 Speaker 3: Who would want to jump? What are you jumping into 352 00:22:11,621 --> 00:22:19,421 Speaker 3: the cold water the waves? The situation was an impossible one. 353 00:22:20,101 --> 00:22:22,341 Speaker 1: But those men hanging onto the rail of the ship 354 00:22:22,381 --> 00:22:27,341 Speaker 1: weren't alone. George, Alex Clark and John had stayed behind 355 00:22:27,421 --> 00:22:30,541 Speaker 1: to take care of them. From this spot on a 356 00:22:30,581 --> 00:22:34,141 Speaker 1: life raft, A young soldier named James Urdley called the 357 00:22:34,221 --> 00:22:38,100 Speaker 1: last glimpse of the four Chaplains there on the Dorchester 358 00:22:38,781 --> 00:22:39,501 Speaker 1: as she sank. 359 00:22:40,781 --> 00:22:44,541 Speaker 9: When she rolled, she rolled to starboard and all I 360 00:22:44,541 --> 00:22:49,141 Speaker 9: could say was the keel up there and there showed 361 00:22:49,181 --> 00:22:51,941 Speaker 9: the four Chapelains standing arm in arm on the top 362 00:22:51,981 --> 00:22:52,461 Speaker 9: of the boat. 363 00:22:53,421 --> 00:22:56,501 Speaker 12: And then the boat took a nose, diving right down. 364 00:22:56,701 --> 00:23:12,181 Speaker 12: They worked with it. That's the last time we show them. 365 00:23:14,661 --> 00:23:17,461 Speaker 1: Hundreds of red lights blinked in the water around the 366 00:23:17,581 --> 00:23:21,461 Speaker 1: USS Dorchester. Roy Summers watched them from his life. 367 00:23:21,581 --> 00:23:25,221 Speaker 10: Raft Men were all around us, and man with life 368 00:23:25,301 --> 00:23:28,701 Speaker 10: jackets on with one cell lights drifting and bobbling in 369 00:23:28,741 --> 00:23:31,580 Speaker 10: the water, and it kind of looked like a wheat 370 00:23:31,621 --> 00:23:34,380 Speaker 10: field with a lot of light. Need bugs over the 371 00:23:34,381 --> 00:23:37,141 Speaker 10: top of the wheat field, bobbing up and down with 372 00:23:37,181 --> 00:23:37,541 Speaker 10: the light. 373 00:23:38,981 --> 00:23:42,860 Speaker 1: He makes his sound so peaceful and reality. It was 374 00:23:42,941 --> 00:23:46,941 Speaker 1: anything but the ship was surrounded by debris and the 375 00:23:47,021 --> 00:23:50,221 Speaker 1: men got caught in it. It happened to Charles Tichia. 376 00:23:50,981 --> 00:23:53,181 Speaker 13: As I was in the water, something grabbed my life 377 00:23:53,261 --> 00:23:56,901 Speaker 13: jacket that had taken me down with it. I pulled 378 00:23:56,941 --> 00:24:00,501 Speaker 13: and I pulled, and I pulled, and finally got free. 379 00:24:00,661 --> 00:24:02,621 Speaker 13: Then I was trying to make my way up to 380 00:24:02,661 --> 00:24:06,221 Speaker 13: the surface. I thought I'd never breathe there again. Finally 381 00:24:06,701 --> 00:24:10,221 Speaker 13: there it was, and right in front of me was 382 00:24:10,261 --> 00:24:14,101 Speaker 13: this life wren. Few fellows grabbed my back and to 383 00:24:14,261 --> 00:24:18,301 Speaker 13: help bring me aboard. And I can hear the depth 384 00:24:18,421 --> 00:24:23,221 Speaker 13: charges all around, being dropped by the coast cut cutters. 385 00:24:24,061 --> 00:24:28,341 Speaker 13: And I can hear the people in the water saying, hell, 386 00:24:29,141 --> 00:24:30,981 Speaker 13: shave me, shave me. 387 00:24:33,301 --> 00:24:36,341 Speaker 1: Even with layers of clothing on, men in the water 388 00:24:36,421 --> 00:24:40,741 Speaker 1: succumbed to hypothermia quickly. For those in the boats, things 389 00:24:40,741 --> 00:24:44,741 Speaker 1: were barely better. Waves drenched the men with water, which 390 00:24:44,781 --> 00:24:49,541 Speaker 1: then froze into sheets of ice. Ernie Heaton got lucky 391 00:24:49,581 --> 00:24:52,701 Speaker 1: for a sort of crazy reason. When he jumped off 392 00:24:52,701 --> 00:24:56,421 Speaker 1: of the boat, he was coated in oil. It soaked 393 00:24:56,421 --> 00:25:00,661 Speaker 1: through his clothing and insulated him against the cold. As 394 00:25:00,701 --> 00:25:03,461 Speaker 1: he was drifting, he saw a cluster of little red 395 00:25:03,541 --> 00:25:07,461 Speaker 1: lights shining in the distance. He decided to swim towards it. 396 00:25:07,981 --> 00:25:10,380 Speaker 8: I started swim as good as I could, and finally 397 00:25:10,421 --> 00:25:13,461 Speaker 8: I got it was a lifeboat. It was a full 398 00:25:13,541 --> 00:25:16,061 Speaker 8: I couldn't get in, so I told a god it 399 00:25:16,101 --> 00:25:19,221 Speaker 8: was setting pushed to me. I said, let me stick 400 00:25:19,301 --> 00:25:21,581 Speaker 8: my arm in there, and you lean against my arm, 401 00:25:22,141 --> 00:25:25,741 Speaker 8: which he did. Then I just went almost limb. 402 00:25:27,141 --> 00:25:30,381 Speaker 1: He floated there, one arm in the boat, the rest 403 00:25:30,381 --> 00:25:33,861 Speaker 1: of his body in the icy water, waiting to be rescued. 404 00:25:35,821 --> 00:25:38,741 Speaker 1: None of the Coastguard cutters in the Dorchester's convoy had 405 00:25:38,741 --> 00:25:41,701 Speaker 1: been torpedoed, and yet they didn't come and help the 406 00:25:41,741 --> 00:25:47,781 Speaker 1: men immediately. Why they were ordered not to. The German 407 00:25:47,861 --> 00:25:51,181 Speaker 1: U boat was still out there somewhere. A naval doctrine 408 00:25:51,221 --> 00:25:54,301 Speaker 1: said that when a ship was torpedoed, the other vessels 409 00:25:54,301 --> 00:25:57,981 Speaker 1: in the convoy should seek and destroy the enemy submarine 410 00:25:58,341 --> 00:26:03,021 Speaker 1: before rescuing survivors. So the men of the Dorchester waited 411 00:26:03,501 --> 00:26:07,901 Speaker 1: and waited. The cutters didn't start to rescue survivors until 412 00:26:07,981 --> 00:26:12,541 Speaker 1: fifty minutes after the explosion. By the time they arrived, 413 00:26:12,741 --> 00:26:15,821 Speaker 1: they were greeted by hundreds of blinking red lights from 414 00:26:15,861 --> 00:26:20,981 Speaker 1: life jackets, all attached to floating dead bodies. The rescue 415 00:26:20,981 --> 00:26:25,581 Speaker 1: mission took hours, prowling through the darkness looking for each 416 00:26:25,701 --> 00:26:30,821 Speaker 1: little lifeboat and raft. One Coastguard cutter was named the Escanaba. 417 00:26:31,301 --> 00:26:33,701 Speaker 1: It would eventually pick up a total of one hundred 418 00:26:33,741 --> 00:26:37,501 Speaker 1: and thirty two survivors. One of them was Ernie Heaton. 419 00:26:38,381 --> 00:26:41,021 Speaker 1: He was still being held onto the lifeboat by his arm. 420 00:26:41,781 --> 00:26:44,661 Speaker 1: As the Escanaba threw nets towards the men on the boat, 421 00:26:44,821 --> 00:26:46,501 Speaker 1: he felt himself slipping away. 422 00:26:47,341 --> 00:26:49,541 Speaker 8: This guy that was holding my arm. Men knew that 423 00:26:49,581 --> 00:26:52,421 Speaker 8: I would couldn't do it, but I couldn't do anything. 424 00:26:52,461 --> 00:26:55,501 Speaker 8: I was just about gone. And finally I could hear 425 00:26:55,541 --> 00:26:59,021 Speaker 8: you holler, this guy's still alive. This guy's still alive. 426 00:26:59,261 --> 00:27:02,061 Speaker 8: Comin get him, comin get him. He wouldn't leave that 427 00:27:02,141 --> 00:27:04,301 Speaker 8: boat until they come and got me. 428 00:27:06,221 --> 00:27:08,901 Speaker 1: Charles Chichi. I was saved by the Escanaba Iwo. 429 00:27:09,621 --> 00:27:13,661 Speaker 13: They threw a lateral the side, but dianes were frozen. 430 00:27:14,861 --> 00:27:17,701 Speaker 13: One of the men from the ship came down and 431 00:27:17,821 --> 00:27:21,261 Speaker 13: helped us go aboard. Once I got on a deck, 432 00:27:22,021 --> 00:27:24,861 Speaker 13: I kneeled down, I kissed the deck, smiling. 433 00:27:26,181 --> 00:27:30,061 Speaker 1: Another Coastguard cutter was the Comanche. That boat wasn't supposed 434 00:27:30,101 --> 00:27:32,901 Speaker 1: to be picking up survivors at all. They were meant 435 00:27:32,981 --> 00:27:35,861 Speaker 1: to still be looking for the U boat, but the 436 00:27:35,901 --> 00:27:39,100 Speaker 1: captain felt he had to help, so, even though they 437 00:27:39,141 --> 00:27:43,181 Speaker 1: weren't trained or equipped for rescue, the Comanche's men started 438 00:27:43,261 --> 00:27:48,341 Speaker 1: diving into the freezing waves. They saved ninety four from 439 00:27:48,341 --> 00:27:53,101 Speaker 1: the Dorchester. The Coastguard boats reached Greenland at three am 440 00:27:53,221 --> 00:27:56,901 Speaker 1: the morning of February fourth. Less than a third of 441 00:27:56,941 --> 00:28:00,941 Speaker 1: the men aboard the Dorchester survived, but for those who lived, 442 00:28:01,301 --> 00:28:07,701 Speaker 1: the four Chaplains lived on as well. In the years 443 00:28:07,741 --> 00:28:11,501 Speaker 1: that followed the sinking of the USS Dorchester, the men 444 00:28:11,541 --> 00:28:14,741 Speaker 1: who survived kept looking back on that night and on 445 00:28:14,821 --> 00:28:19,461 Speaker 1: the actions of George Fox, Alex Good, Clark Pulling, and 446 00:28:19,621 --> 00:28:25,341 Speaker 1: John Washington. Benjamin Epstein marveled at the sacrifices they made. 447 00:28:25,581 --> 00:28:28,181 Speaker 3: Could I do what the Four Chaplains did, take their life, 448 00:28:28,181 --> 00:28:32,580 Speaker 3: preserve off from give it to someone else? Absolutely not. 449 00:28:32,821 --> 00:28:34,661 Speaker 3: I don't think I could do it. I didn't do it. 450 00:28:35,581 --> 00:28:40,821 Speaker 3: That's why I say their bravery, their heroism is beyond 451 00:28:42,261 --> 00:28:43,021 Speaker 3: beyond belief. 452 00:28:45,101 --> 00:28:48,301 Speaker 1: In nineteen forty four, each of the four Chaplains received 453 00:28:48,301 --> 00:28:52,421 Speaker 1: the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Service Cross, and in 454 00:28:52,541 --> 00:28:56,381 Speaker 1: nineteen forty eight the US Postal Service issued a three 455 00:28:56,501 --> 00:29:00,141 Speaker 1: cent stamp in their honor. It had the heading the 456 00:29:00,181 --> 00:29:05,221 Speaker 1: Immortal Chaplains and an illustration of the four men. This 457 00:29:05,381 --> 00:29:10,061 Speaker 1: was a huge deal. Back then people used stamps every day. 458 00:29:10,781 --> 00:29:14,301 Speaker 1: Was no email and normally no stamp could be issued 459 00:29:14,461 --> 00:29:17,861 Speaker 1: until the subject had been dead for ten years, but 460 00:29:18,021 --> 00:29:22,901 Speaker 1: Congress waived that rule in nineteen sixty one. The four 461 00:29:22,981 --> 00:29:27,621 Speaker 1: men were each awarded a specially designed Congressional Medal of Valor. 462 00:29:28,461 --> 00:29:30,861 Speaker 1: Many believed they should have received the Medal of Honor, 463 00:29:31,261 --> 00:29:34,741 Speaker 1: but ultimately they were ruled ineligible since they were not 464 00:29:34,941 --> 00:29:39,541 Speaker 1: on the field of battle. There are literally dozens and 465 00:29:39,741 --> 00:29:43,221 Speaker 1: dozens of memorials to the Four Chaplains. There are stained 466 00:29:43,221 --> 00:29:47,461 Speaker 1: glass windows and statues, chapels, and monuments from West Virginia 467 00:29:47,501 --> 00:29:51,781 Speaker 1: to South Korea. But their legacy is more than medals 468 00:29:51,781 --> 00:29:55,941 Speaker 1: and memorials. Their story has become a touchstone for the 469 00:29:56,021 --> 00:30:00,221 Speaker 1: inter faith movement, people who believe that religions should work together, 470 00:30:01,141 --> 00:30:05,861 Speaker 1: that we should focus on our common hopes are common humanity. 471 00:30:06,501 --> 00:30:10,821 Speaker 1: Remember James Mcatney, he saw the Four Chaplains as an inspiration. 472 00:30:12,181 --> 00:30:15,861 Speaker 4: Here are these men who in my day and time 473 00:30:16,421 --> 00:30:20,981 Speaker 4: would have been diametrically opposed in so many areas to 474 00:30:21,021 --> 00:30:24,781 Speaker 4: what the other believed, and yet they did what they 475 00:30:24,821 --> 00:30:28,141 Speaker 4: did and got together so well and everything else. And 476 00:30:28,221 --> 00:30:33,341 Speaker 4: I think they embody that brotherhood that we all report 477 00:30:33,381 --> 00:30:36,901 Speaker 4: to strive for and have and yet you're not likely 478 00:30:36,981 --> 00:30:41,341 Speaker 4: for a while to attain. They epitomize what brotherhood and 479 00:30:42,021 --> 00:30:44,861 Speaker 4: caring for each other really means. 480 00:30:48,221 --> 00:30:51,501 Speaker 1: The four Chaplains are honored every year and hundreds of 481 00:30:51,541 --> 00:30:55,581 Speaker 1: interfaith services around the country. The American Legion marks the 482 00:30:55,621 --> 00:30:59,341 Speaker 1: anniversary of the sinking with non denominational services across the 483 00:30:59,461 --> 00:31:03,981 Speaker 1: United States. They celebrate the Chaplain's brotherhood and they're shared 484 00:31:04,021 --> 00:31:08,541 Speaker 1: hope for peace. The Chaplains came to symbolize a dedication 485 00:31:08,701 --> 00:31:14,221 Speaker 1: to democracy too. Here's President Dwight Eisenhower speaking in nineteen 486 00:31:14,341 --> 00:31:17,341 Speaker 1: fifty two human Rights. 487 00:31:17,181 --> 00:31:21,581 Speaker 14: The rightful workp as we please to speak and to think, 488 00:31:22,501 --> 00:31:27,741 Speaker 14: and to earn, and to say, we are specually inspired 489 00:31:28,261 --> 00:31:31,261 Speaker 14: in our resolution to descend those rights by the memory 490 00:31:31,301 --> 00:31:38,661 Speaker 14: of Burd Chaplin, who met death bravely, quietly, even tranquility 491 00:31:39,541 --> 00:31:44,221 Speaker 14: in the thinking of adults. They gave their alives without 492 00:31:44,301 --> 00:31:48,021 Speaker 14: some points, so that their fellow citizens could live. 493 00:31:50,981 --> 00:31:54,661 Speaker 1: I like how he says tranquility, because that is part 494 00:31:54,701 --> 00:31:57,781 Speaker 1: of their story that I think a lot about. They 495 00:31:57,821 --> 00:32:02,421 Speaker 1: stayed calm and tranquil during all the chaos. It's pretty incredible. 496 00:32:03,421 --> 00:32:05,781 Speaker 1: I think they were able to do that in part 497 00:32:05,861 --> 00:32:09,861 Speaker 1: because they had each other. Their shared mission. Their friendship 498 00:32:10,261 --> 00:32:14,261 Speaker 1: gave them strength. It allowed them to show kindness and 499 00:32:14,341 --> 00:32:17,741 Speaker 1: generosity until the end when they can do nothing more 500 00:32:17,861 --> 00:32:20,781 Speaker 1: to help the men of the Dorchester. And then they 501 00:32:20,821 --> 00:32:25,821 Speaker 1: held hands and prayed in English and Latin and Hebrew 502 00:32:26,461 --> 00:32:52,421 Speaker 1: as the cold water lapped at their feet. Medal of Honor. 503 00:32:52,541 --> 00:32:56,421 Speaker 1: Stories of Courage is written by Meredith Rollins and produced 504 00:32:56,421 --> 00:33:00,381 Speaker 1: by Meredith Rollins and Ryan Sweikert. Our editor is Lydia 505 00:33:00,461 --> 00:33:05,261 Speaker 1: Jane Kott. Sound designed by Jake Gorski. Our executive producer 506 00:33:05,381 --> 00:33:09,861 Speaker 1: is Constanze Gayadro, fact checking by Arthur Comforts, and original 507 00:33:09,901 --> 00:33:13,901 Speaker 1: music by Eric Phillips. The rest of our team includes 508 00:33:14,101 --> 00:33:20,061 Speaker 1: Malcolm Gladwell, Carl Cadele, Greta Cone, Christina Sullivan, Eric Sandler, 509 00:33:20,461 --> 00:33:26,621 Speaker 1: Grace Ross, Morgan Rattner, Jordan McMillan, Kira Posey, Owen Miller, 510 00:33:26,981 --> 00:33:31,581 Speaker 1: and Jake Flanagan. And extra special thanks to Polly Fox Britton, 511 00:33:31,981 --> 00:33:35,021 Speaker 1: the wife of David Fox, who recorded many of the 512 00:33:35,021 --> 00:33:38,861 Speaker 1: interviews you heard in this episode. That tape was provided 513 00:33:38,901 --> 00:33:43,061 Speaker 1: by the World War Two Museum. Additional thanks to series 514 00:33:43,141 --> 00:33:47,381 Speaker 1: creator Dan mcinnon, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and 515 00:33:47,461 --> 00:33:52,861 Speaker 1: our research intern Emmaline Jones. This is our last episode 516 00:33:52,941 --> 00:33:55,661 Speaker 1: of this third season, but we want to keep hearing 517 00:33:55,701 --> 00:33:58,021 Speaker 1: from you. Tell us what other stories you would like 518 00:33:58,061 --> 00:34:01,341 Speaker 1: to listen to on the show. Email us at Medalal 519 00:34:01,421 --> 00:34:06,941 Speaker 1: Honor at Pushkin dot Fm. Thank you for listening. I'm 520 00:34:06,981 --> 00:34:13,261 Speaker 1: your host, JR. Martinez and 521 00:34:15,381 --> 00:34:15,421 Speaker 6: S.