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The Voice for Chaplaincy - Chartered by Congress - Serving Since 1925
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Weekly Newsgram - February 1st
, 2017
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February 3, 1943, 74 years ago this Friday, the SS Dorchester on its voyage from New York to an Army Command Base in Greenland, was torpedoed by German Submarine U-223. The ship's single boiler was immediately lost preventing the proper sounding of the abandon ship signal due to lack of steam. This lack of power also prevented the sending of a radio distress signal to alert the escorts. The Dorchester slipped beneath the waves within 20 minutes of the devastating hit.
The Dorchester, and all who gave their lives with her, is especially remembered due to the super human example of servant-hood evinced by four of the soldiers aboard. Now known as the Four Chaplains, Methodist minister George L. Fox, Reformed Church in America minister Clark V. Poling, Roman Catholic priest John P. Washington, and Rabbi Alexander B. Goode, first assisted confused and desperate soldiers in finding life jackets and escaping the darkness below decks. As they grasped the gravity of the situation these four surrendered their own life jackets to others and were last seen standing arm in arm, saying prayers and singing hymns, as the ship plunged to the bottom of the sea.
As Grady Clark, a survivor of the tragedy recorded, "As I swam from the ship, I looked back. The flares had lighted everything. The bow came up high and she slid under. The last thing I saw, the Four Chaplains were up there praying for the safety of the men. They had done everything they could. I did not see them again. They themselves did not have a chance without their life jackets."
Rightly heralded as immortal chaplains due to their bravery and example, more than 300 memorials, plaques, and statues are dedicated to their memory. Each of the four received the Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart posthumously in 1944. A special Medal for Heroism (now referred to as the Four Chaplains Medal) was authorized by Congress and awarded in 1961 by President Eisenhower. This medal was intended to carry with it the same recognition as the Medal of Honor.
This weekend many worship services and service projects across our land will recognize the sacrifice of these four men. Leaders will note the true camaraderie survivors witnessed that night as together, the Four Chaplains provided for the needs of others to their own peril. In many ways the Four Chaplains define chaplaincy for all of us. Perhaps we can each provide a reference to them in our messages in the coming days. May their "greater love" guide us all.
Lyman Smith
Executive Director
The Four Chaplains - Department of Defense
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TAPS
Colonel, USAF, Retired
Pentecostal Church of God
Joined MCA as Life Member January 2013
National Executive Committee 2013 - 2016
Endorser, Pentecostal Church of God
Deceased January, 2017
Albuquerque, NM
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Annual Members
Chaplain Robert L. Hubbard, Jr.
CAPT, USN, Retired
Evangelical Free Church of America
Denver, CO
Chaplain Jeff Grimes
CPT, UARNG
Southern Baptist Convention
Franklin, KY
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Hiring Freeze Updates - Chaplains and Other Issues
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Among those listed as exempt from the hiring freeze within the Department of Veterans Affairs are chaplains. This from a memo issued by the Acting Secretary on the 27th of January.
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In case you wondered about the impact of the Federal Government hiring freeze ordered by the President,
this article by Carten Cordell of the Federal Times provides insight.
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The American Heritage Center
Seeks Your Help
David Calhoun, CPT, FA - MCAV Advisor Team 4 is working on two stories for the Army Heritage Center and asks your help. Also, please pass this request along if you know of someone who might be able to help.
1. Chaplains in the field/combat. This will be a story of religious services of all faiths being conducted by chaplains (especially in combat) in the largest cathedral in the world - - the outdoors/world itself. Looking for photos and experiences of soldiers and chaplains. Please contact him at his email ([email protected]).
2. Officers and enlisted that served as casket escorts, SAOs and NOK detail. Looking for copies of orders and personal experiences of veterans who had to notify families of their loss; help with paperwork for survivors; escorted remains to cemeteries etc. Also looking to interview wives, husbands, parents who have suffered a loss/experienced these events. Please contact him at his email ([email protected]).
If you are a veteran and have not been interviewed for your story of your experience to be part of the history archives, please contact Captain Calhoun for information and/or an interview. Thanks.
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National Guard Chaplains
Training Program
The Mental Health Integration for Chaplain Services (MHICS) training program has two seats available for Army National Guard Chaplains. See attachments. We are looking for two M-day Chaplains who serve parishes to nominate. Please forward your nominees to our office for consideration to put forth. We need the names NLT 15 FEB.
Ch (COL) Kenneth "Ed" Brandt, ARNG, Staff Chaplain
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South Carolina Chapter
Meeting
Tuesday 14 February 1145 at the Fort Jackson NCO Club ... Lee Avenue.
Look for the MCA sign once in the Club.
Chaplain, Lt Col, Brian Bohlman, SC Air National Guard will share
'Discovering God at the Ends of the Earth.'
Brian recently returned from deployment to McMurdo Station on Antarctica
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RSVP Affirmative ONLY to [email protected] or leave a message 803-751-7316.
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MCA National Institute 2017
October 23 - 26, 2017
Newport News, Virginia
Please plan to join us!
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If you missed the January 25th
edition of the Newsgram
click here
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SUPPORTING CHAPLAINCY IN AND OUT OF UNIFORM: Active, Retired and Former Chaplains of the
United States Army,
United States Navy,
United States Air Force, Department of
Veterans Affairs, and
Civil Air Patrol
AND THOSE THEY SERVE: military members, veterans, and their families
at home and around the world
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The Military Chaplains Association of the USA
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