Chaplain Basil Meyer of Bluffton American Legion Post 382 has announced a worship service to observe the Sacrifice of Four Armed Forces Chaplains during World War II. This annual observance is part of the Legion’s “Service to God and country” program.

At 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022, a public worship service will be held at First United Methodist Church, 116 Church St. Legion officials and clergymen are planning special programs for the observance of the 79th Anniversary of the sinking of the USS Dorchester and the heroism demonstrated by the four chaplains in that event.

The Legion notes, “of the many incidents of World War II, probably none stirred the nation more deeply than the story of these four men of God whose heroic efforts were credited with the saving of more than 200 lives. These four–a Jewish rabbi, a Roman Catholic priest, and two Protestant ministers–calmly issued life belts to American servicemen aboard the troop transport after it was torpedoed on February 3, 1943.

“When the supply of life preservers was exhausted, the four Chaplains removed their own life belts and gave them to four soldiers and then stood calmly on the sinking ship, their arms around one another's shoulders and their heads bowed in prayer.”