Several local veterans groups will gather in Gloucester Court House on Saturday, Feb. 4 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Four Chaplains—the four United States Army chaplains who gave their lives to save their fellow soldiers as the troop ship SS Dorchester sank on Feb. 3, 1943 during World War II.
American Legion Posts 75 and 83, Disabled American Veterans’ Chapter 58, Marine Corps League Detachment 1317 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8252 will host the program honoring the sacrifice of these four men beginning at 11 a.m. at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 6470 Main Street, Gloucester.
The Four Chaplains, also referred to as the “Immortal Chaplains” or the “Dorchester Chaplains,” helped other soldiers board lifeboats and eventually gave up their own life jackets when the supply ran out. The chaplains joined arms, said prayers, and sang hymns as they went down with the ship.
The Dorchester left New York on Jan. 23, 1943, en route to Greenland, as part of a convoy of thr...