The White Falcon - 05.02.1993, Blaðsíða 2

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Chapel of Light - Light Bytes
Reprinted from Good Housekeeping, Junel945, in
honor of the four chaplains who willingly gave
themselves that others might be spared when the
American cargo transport Dorchester was torpe-
doed in iceberg waters 90 miles from Greenland on
February 1, 1943.
Four men of God
The transport Dorchester set forth upon
her dangerous mission north.
Grim winter rode the seas with
her, and cold and gray the sky.
There were four men of God aboard to
do the service of the Lord,
To share the life of fighting men
and shrive them, must they die.
Four chaplains, Catholic and Jew and
Protestants (by choice) were two:
Poling and Fox and Washington
and Alexander Goode.
Four men of God, enough to say, who
questions, which was which today?
Four men of God who shared the
dream of world-side brotherhood.
They did not preach the narrow way;
they live with men from day to day;
They understood their smiles and
tears, their every joy and care;
The human heart they understood; found
in the worst a share of good.
And tried to do for God those
deeds which men beseech in prayer.
The Dorchester's clean decks they trod;
four gracious, humble men of God,
Who served both braid and
dungaree as though they were the same;
Who never questioned post or place
religion, color, caste or race
Of any who in earnest need of
aid or comfort came,
Aye, there were times when faith alone
called each to worship with his own.
When Rabbi, Priest, and Minister
knelt down with one in grief.
And times when each would draw apart
to comfort many a lonely heart
Or strengthen at the battle’s eve
some faltering boy’s belief
But one must ask the question: Who was
Catholic, Protestant, or Jew?
Unless the holy vessels on the
altar had been laid.
For in the ship's life, weal and woe,
there was no outer sign to show
That form of worship, rote or
prayer the slightest difference made.
War takes no heed or wrong or right
The only God it has is might
Its deadly missiles screaming fly.
Not caring who shall live or die;
Not asking: Is the mission fair?
Not wondering: Does the good Lord care?
Or will their fearful force be spent
Where sleep the old and innocent?
Below the waters, cold and green.
Within a German submarine
A youthful, listening sailor stirred.
The sound of moving ship he’d heard,
he rose and to his captain spoke.
A periscope the surface broke!
The captain turned it, left and right.
And peering through the slotted sight.
He waited for the ship to pass
Across his little field of glass,
the Dorchester came into view.
To battle stations went the crew.
“Fire one” was ordered. Then: “Fire two!”
From tubes, shot out with flaming breath,
Went two shrewd instruments of death.
Controlled by many a wise device,
They sped upon a course, precise,
To sink their targets, ship and men!
“Good,” said the captain.
“Down again!”
Upon the decks of ships are chest in
which are life belts stored.
Against the time when men must
trust themselves unto the sea.
At such a chest each Chaplain stayed to
calm and hearten boys afraid
And pass them belts to hold them
up till rescued they could be.
But some too frightened were to leap;
they would not risk the raging deep.
Convinced that death awaited all
who ventured overside.
“Trust God!” they heard the Chaplain
say. “Trust God and go! ’Tis death to stay!”
And thus was many a youngster
saved who otherwise has died.
No talk of Catholic or Jew! No
question: “Protestant are you?”
But this: “Your belt! God keep you safe!”
No sign of inner fear.
Four humble men of God, just then in
peril with their fellowmen,
Who dared to keep the faith
they’d taught when death was
drawing near.
Then when the last life belt was gone
and still were other who had none,
“Here,” said each Chaplain of
the sea, ‘Take mine! You life ‘twill spare!"
And with this last brave service done,
they stood together, four as one!
And linked their arms and bowed
their heads and spoke a final prayer.
From bow to stem the vessel shook.
Those in the sea who turned to look
just as the ship went down
beheld four men of God, who stood.
Arms linked together and at a prayer!
Four men of God undaunted there.
Who dare to die for their belief
in ties of brotherhood.
Oh, there are times when hate and strife
stain all that’s best in human life,
When bitterness so fills men’s
hearts that hatred seems their trade;
But ‘gainst war’s horror, filth and crime
will shine for all remaining time
The glory of united faiths which
four brave men displayed!
We are not told the prayer they chose,
Since death so swiftly came.
I fancy though, 'tis thus it goes;
“Our Father, Who in Heaven art,
hallowed by Thy name!”
- By Edgar A. Guest
Quality of Life Advisory Board
By AVCM (AW) Henry Danley
Command Master Chief,
Naval Air Station, Keflavfk
The Naval Air Station Quality of Life
(QOL) Advisory Board was created to ^
provide a base-wide mechanism for bring-^
ing problems or issues, that are unable, tnj
be handled at the personal level, to the
attention of the service provider and/or a
large body or personnel for discussion
and a response. The intent of the QOL
Adivsory Board is to put an end to an
unresolved problem or issue. From the
QOL Advisory Board, suggestions for
improvement of facilities and or services
are made to the commanding officer and
service providers. The vehicle for bring-
ing problems to the attention of the serv-
ice providers and the QOL Advisory
Board is by us ing the Quali ty of Life Im-
provement Request Form which is avail-
able at the Naval Air Station Command
Post and from QOL Advisory Board mem-
bers. All commands and detachments
have members assigned and they can
assist in filling out this form.
:W
HITE.
Commander, Iceland Defense Force
RADM Michael D. Haskins
Public Affairs Officer
LT Joseph L. Quimby
Deputy Public Affairs Officer
Fridth6r Kr. Eydal
Chief Petty Officer in Charge
JOC Terry J. Bamthouse
Draftsman
DM2 Danielle J. Kim
Editor
J02 Colleen “Ghostwriter” Casper
Journalist
J02 Carlos Bcngioannl
J03 (SW) Andreas Walter
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