Chaplains' Long-ago sacrifice is not forgotten

Photo by Leslie Smith St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Chester was filled Sunday afternoon when the American Legion held its Interfaith “Four Chaplains” service there. Pictured (from left): Paul E. Oser Sr., Vice Commander, Orange County American Legion Post 1573; Rabbi Ari Perten, of Monroe-Woodbury Jewish Community Center, Monroe; Charlie Pakula, past-Commander of Harriman American Legion Post 1573; Catherine Burke, Commander of Orange County American Legion Post 1796; the Rev. Richard E. Ploth of the Chester Presbyterian Church; the Rev. Candace Sandfort, Vicar of St. Paul's; the Rev. John Bonnici of St Columba Roman Catholic Church, Chester; and Jerrold P. Oser Sr., Vice Commander of Orange County American Legion Post 1573. The service honored the four chaplains who drowned after guiding many soldiers to safety, then giving their life jackets to four other men, after the U.S.A.T. Dorchester was torpedoed and sank on Feb. 3, 1943, off the coast of Greenland. (The two vice commanders are identical twins.)