BRUNSWICK — The Brunswick American Legion George T. Files Post 20 will open its doors to the public Saturday, Feb. 2 at 5 p.m. at 1 Columbus Dr. to host the Four Chaplains Ceremony.
US troop transport USAT Dorchester was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine U-223 Feb. 3, 1943. The Four Chaplains Ceremony honors the heroism of four chaplains. Through their leadership and heroism, lives were saved that would have otherwise been lost. Those chaplains were Lt. George L. Fox, Methodist; Lt. Alexander D. Goode, Jewish; Lt. John P. Washington, Roman Catholic; and Lt. Clark V. Poling, Dutch Reformed.
There were 902 US soldiers on the Dorchester at the time of the attack; 672 Americans died as a result. Of those who died, 44 were from Maine, several from the Brunswick Area.
When the word reached the American shores, the nation was stunned by the magnitude of the tragedy and the heroic conduct of the four chaplains.
The Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart were awarded posthumously Dec.19, 1944, to the next of kin. A one-time only posthumous Special Medal for Heroism was authorized by Congress and awarded by then President Dwight Eisenhower Jan. 18,1961. Congress attempted to confer the Medal of Honor but was blocked by the stringent requirements that required heroism performed under fire. The special medal was intended to have the same weight and importance as the Medal of Honor.
Refreshments will be served following the ceremony.
