No Greater Glory: The Four Immortal Chaplains and the Sinking of the Dorchester in World War II

by Dan Kurzman

The sinking of the Dorchester in the icy waters off Greenland shortly after midnight on February 3, 1942, was one of the worst sea disasters of World War II. It was also the occasion of an astounding feat of heroism—and faith.

As water gushed through a hole made by a German torpedo, four chaplains—members of different faiths but linked by bonds of friendship and devotion—moved quietly among the men onboard. Preaching bravery, the chaplains distributed life jackets, including their own. In the end, these four men went down with the ship, their arms linked in spiritual solidarity, their voices raised in prayer. In this spellbinding narrative, award-winning author and journalist Dan Kurzman tells the story of these heroes and the faith—in God and in country—that they shared.

They were about as different as four American clergymen could be. George Lansing Fox (Methodist), wounded and decorated in World War I, loved his family and his Vermont congregation—yet he re-enlisted as soon as he heard about Pearl Harbor. Rabbi Alex Goode was an athlete, an intellectual, and an adoring new father—yet he too knew, the day Pearl Harbor was bombed, that he would serve. Clark Poling (Dutch Reformed), the son a famous radio evangelist, left for war begging his father to pray that he would never be a coward. Father John Washington (Catholic), a scrappy Irish street fighter, had dedicated himself to the church after a childhood brush with death. Chance brought the chaplains together at a Massachusetts training camp, but each was convinced that God had a reason for placing them together aboard the Dorchester.

Drawing on extensive interviews with the chaplains’ families and the crews of both the Dorchester and the German submarine that fired the fatal torpedo, Kurzman re-creates the intimate circumstances and great historic events that culminated in that terrible night. The final hours unfold with the electrifying clarity of nightmare—the chaplains taking charge of the dwindling supply of life jackets, the panic of the crew, the overcrowded lifeboats, the prayers that ring out over the chaos, and the tight circle that the four chaplains form as the inevitable draws near.

In No Greater Glory, Dan Kurzman tells how four extraordinary men left their mark on a single night of war—and forever changed the lives of those they saved. Riveting and inspiring, this is a true story of heroism, of goodness in the face of disaster, and of faith that transfigures even the horror of war.


From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, World War II, Military Fiction, Military History, American History

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Dan Halperin Kurzman was an American journalist and writer of military history books. He studied at the University of California in Berkeley, served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1946, and completed his studies at Berkeley with a Bachelor degree in political science. In the early 1950s, he worked in Europe and in Israel for American newspapers and news agencies and was then correspondent of the NBC News in Jerusalem.

Reviews

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just about finished with this story. A good one too. Review coming up when finished
Finished and it is a good one.
For some reason, I don't remember the story of these four chaplains.
I know who they are now. In fact, I've been researching their story since I finished the book.
The sinking of the Dorchester is one story but their own story on how they became ministers/preachers/ chaplains is another story. A very, VERY interesting story.
They all came from different faiths and backgrounds but had one common trait -- to ultimately serve their God and country to the highest level.
This book is a keeper.
Bought it at Half Price Bookstore for a couple of bucks. What a bargain.

[Bonnie Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a fine line between admiring the subject you are writing about, and descending into hagiography. A good biographer should know the difference and respect it. Dan Kurzman does not. No Greater Glory is the story of the disastrous sinking of the USAT Dorchester- a troop transport ship- off the coast of Greenland during WWII, and the bravery of the four chaplains, Reverend George Fox, Rabbi Alex Goode, Reverend Clark Poling, and Father John Washington, who decided to go down with the ship in order to help as many panicking men as possible get off the ship and survive.

The four chaplains each felt called by God to preach a message of love for everyone and respect for all religions, and they felt that serving as chaplains in the fight against Germany (and against the horrible antisemitism coming from there even before the extent of the holocaust was known) would aid in spreading that message of love. This isn’t a story I had heard before, and the subject of the book is actually really interesting. There are a lot of factors that came together to exacerbate this tragedy: Many men ignored the orders to wear all clothing and a life jacket while sleeping, and thus were not prepared to survive the freezing waters when the ship was hit. Many of the lifeboats had actually frozen to the deck of the ship, making them unusable, causing what lifeboats were out on sea to be overcrowded and frequently to capsize. The men’s life jackets had red blinking lights on them to make it easier for the other ships in the convoy to find and rescue them, but the commanding officer gave orders not to go searching for survivors until long after the 20 minutes that it was estimated the men had before freezing to death in the water. Of more than 900 men on the ship, only about 200 survived. The really strong point of the book is the large amount of quotes the author manages to pull from some pretty extensive interviews with the crews of both the Dorchester and the U-Boat that fired the torpedo- it’s really interesting to hear about the events of that night in the men’s own words.

Unfortunately, Dan Kurzman makes much of the rest of the book that is not pulled from interviews kind of hard to get through with the rhapsodizing, overblown prose that he feels the need to toss in all over the book, and in the end, you’re left with a portrayal of the heroes that makes them out to be really larger than life. I could also say a great deal about the problematic way in which the author's narrative treats the families these men left behind by enlisting when they didn't have to, but perhaps those types of problems are to be expected from a book about soldiers entitled "No Greater Glory."

Don't get me wrong, the bravery of these four men in giving their life jackets, gloves and such to men who were unprepared, to give them a better chance of survival, and trying to calm the soldiers to get them on life boats is truly heroic, and their message of love for all men and respect for other religions is something that is sorely needed today. Still, the fact that the epilogue includes the address of the Immortal Chaplains Foundation and mentions that they run on donations from people who care about their message made me vaguely wonder about exactly what the purpose of the book is- is it to actually tell the story of these four chaplains and the Dorchester, or is it to solicit donations for the Immortal Chaplains Foundation?

[Jimmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Vietnam veterans group is named after the Four Immortal Chaplains, and this is their story from the sinking of the Dorchester by a German u-boat in WWII.

Two main problems with the story. First, it took more than half of it to get to the actual sinking. In other words, too much back story. Second was all the God talk. It's one thing to have a character express beliefs; it's another thing for the author.

Here are their names:

1. Chaplain George Fox, a Methodist. He was a WWI hero. He insisted on serving in WWII, even though his wounds had not completely healed.

2. Chaplain Alex Goode, a Jewish rabbi.

3. Chaplain Clark Poling, Dutch Reformed.

4. Chaplain John Washington, a Catholic.

The four of them gave up their life jackets while the ship was sinking. They also helped others to get off the boat and encouraged them to leave if they were to have any chance of survival. They went down with the ship while praying together.

All men had been asked to wear full clothing and a life jacket when sleeping. Unfortunately, most ignored the order. I can't understand how that could be allowed. In the chaos, they were not prepared to survive.

One man came up with a cleaver and tried to cut his way through the chaos, but he was shot dead by an officer. Another was trapped in a porthole and screamed the entire time until he finally drowned. Many men just couldn't leave the ship and stood at the railing holding on in fear. Others chose to stay below, thinking the ship would not sink.

The life jackets had red lights on them, so the bobbing men looked like a Christmas festival.

The other ships were told to look for the sub and not try to rescue men in the water until it was safe to do so. The commanding officer, to his eternal disgrace, did not want to risk losing another ship, a terrible decision. The men in the ocean had only about 20 minutes to survive before freezing to death. Rescue came too late for so many hundreds.

One man told about how he had to urinate. He did in his pants and was so glad because of the warmth. The others wanted to do the same.

[Glenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very interesting and informative book. It was very depressing to learn that the leader of the coast guard cutters delayed rescuing the men from the Dorchester for an entire hour. This action virtually guaranteed a higher death rate than was necessary. But the story of the chaplains, their background and motivations, was very interesting.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Greater Glory: The Four Immortal Chaplains and the Sinking of the Dorchester in WWII tells the inspirational true story of four military chaplains of different faiths (Methodist, Dutch Reformed, Catholic, and Jewish) who were all on board the Dorchester on their way to their new assignments in Greenland. The ship had just reached the area where patrol planes from Greenland would be able to provide security from the U-Boats. But, unfortunately, just at that moment the Dorchester was attcked and hit by torpedoes. It began to sink and panic set in amongst the troops on the transport as many had not paid attention to what they should do and where they should go in case of emergency. As the ship continued to sink, troops abandoned ship crowding into lifeboats or jumping into the freezing waters and trying to climb into nearby overcrowded lifeboats and rubber rafts. The four chaplains stayed calm and handed out life vests until they ran out. As more life vests were still needed, the chaplains each gave theirs to others and chose to stay with many of the crew along with troops who hadn't managed to find a vest or boat to take and they all went down with the ship. In this way they left their mark on a single night of war and changed the lives of those they had saved. Great and inspiring read!

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

My wife picked this up at the Patton Museum in California a couple of years ago, and I just finally got around to reading it. It is the story of four WWII chaplains (2 Protestant ministers, a Catholic priest, and a Jewish rabbi) on the U.S.S. Dorchester bound for Greenland, which was attacked and sunk by a German submarine. The four chaplains (whose lives and backgrounds, including the decisions that led them to going off to war as chaplains, are detailed in the book) worked heroically to save as many as possible, even giving up their own life preservers to make sure more of the men got to safety. They went down with the ship - by some accounts, still singing hymns as they went -and are remembered today as "The Four Immortal Chaplains." An interesting book, and I certainly liked the message of ecumenical tolerance and interfaith sharing by which these chaplains lived and died (though I don't share the implied view of "one nation, under [the Judaeo-Christian] God").

[Road · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I had heard mention of the Four Chaplains before recently I came across the story again. I was particularly interested in Rabbi Goode; however, the other men are equally interesting. A lot of times we ask why bad things happen. Why is there violence? Why is there hate? In my own journey, I have accepted that this is the way the world is. I move on to the next question--what can I do about it?

That's why I read this book.

[Kelly Passey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true story about four chaplains in World War II, who had a vision of a world united despite racial, political or religious differences. These men, along with hundreds of others, were lost when the Dorchester, a troop transport ship, was torpedoed by a U-boat in the North Atlantic. This is another story of unsung heroes (of whom there are thousands) who made the world a better place.

[Peter Kiss · Rating 3 out of 5]

While a nice story about heroic chaplains, it seems like such books in chaplaincy really lay aside the fact that the chaplaincy is meant to carry the gospel. Religious differences do matter. I don't like the shallow ecumenism of the author and it makes me sad that men who are called to be faithful to God and who otherwise are courageous men, cannot actually preach Christ crucified for the world.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always thought that the stories of the sinkings of the Lusitania and Indianapolis were better and more historically significant than that of the sinking of the Titanic. I now put the sinking of the Dorchester and the story of these 4 chaplains in that cateogory.

[Dennis Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Inspiring True Story

Four chaplains personify what’s right about religion and people of faith. A true story of heroism and love of man in WWII by men who lived their faith in life and a final crisis.

[Janeen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a typical read for me. But I was given this book by a family member. My great uncle John S. Maycrovich Jr was on the Dorchester. Although he is not specifically mentioned in the book, it gives us insight on what he went through and what his final days were like.

[Lynn Carr · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Kindle version I tried to read is missing pages -- about every 10 pages! Could not justify reading further with so much of the book missing.

[Nicole Hardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a little slow at first but keep reading, the stories will inspire you.

[Makayla Huff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knowing what happens does not stop you from feeling connected to the Chaplains and their families. These hero’s are not recognized enough for what they did in the last moments of their lives.

[Stimple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kurzman, an award-winning author, tells the compelling story about Fox, Goode, Poling, and Washington - four military chaplains all from different religious backgrounds and heritages - and their service and ultimate demise aboard the ill-fated USAT Dorchester - a troop transport - during WWII off the coast of Greenland in 1943.

The first half of the book tells about the families, friends, and acquaintances of the four along with some background on several of the Dorchester crew-members and passengers. The second half of the book documents the time beginning with the departure of the Dorchester from St. John's on her final journey until it is struck by a single torpedo from the German submarine U-223 until survivors are picked up and rescued by several local cutters - but too late.

In the midst of the mayhem and freezing death in the waters of the stormy North Atlantic, the Jewish, Catholic, Dutch Reformed, and Methodist chaplains together went about their duties of consoling, encouraging, and assisting crew-members escape the throes of the sinking ship immediately after the torpedo strike. The Dorchester went down in around 20 minutes in the middle of a dark and wave-swept and icy night but the stories and recollections from a few of the survivors - especially with regard to the four chaplains and the aid they rendered - is something to be remembered a lifetime.

This is a story about destiny, confluence, courage, and faith. This is a story about four chaplains who, in spite of doctrinal and religious differences, found greater service in working for God by working together and giving assistance to hurting individuals regardless of their backgrounds.

The epilogue of the book is bittersweet. There is some victory, but also a significant amount of loss. For all of the memories of survival and rescue and remembrance, there are just as many results of sadness, depression, and more loss.

A powerful but very sobering book. Highly recommended.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an absolutely mesmerizing tale -- the tragedy of the USAT Dorchester, sunk in the North Atlantic by a U-boat 65 years ago, killing hundreds of men, interlaced with the tale of four chaplains -- one priest, one rabbi, two Protestants -- who gave away their life jackets and went down with the ship after helping dozens of men to get into lifeboats and rafts.

But be warned: Dan Kurzman lets no chance for hagiography go unremarked upon. As an editor, I have often told writers that when they have a dramatic story, let the story tell itself; don't ruin its impact by telling people what they ought to feel. Kurzman, unfortunately, doesn't seem to have learned that lesson, despite his experience with the Washington Post, and so we get sentences like this, referring to the chaplains' first meeting: "Yet all were driven men, spurred on by an irrepressible need, nourished by compassion and a covenant with God to fulfill at any risk a mission that would test their souls. They symbolized in microcosm the concept of brotherhood they hoped would help to promote friendly postwar relations among both individuals and nations."

These kinds of high flown purple insertions litter the book and take away from the very heroism and selflessness it is trying to depict.

There is also a novel based on this event, and perhaps it is better.

[Rick Segers · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a good book that can be read different ways. Those seeking the religious aspects of the story will enjoy. The history buffs like me will like it for its historical significance. I first learned of the story of the Four Chaplains as child building a stamp collection and I came across the U.S. commemerative stamp issed to honor the four. Other than bits and pieces of the story, in those pre-internet days I was able to put very little information together. I discovered this book in an on-line used book store (I forget which one). It was one that was hard to put down. Very well written.

For those unfamiliar with the story here is what Publisher's Weekly wrote to describe it:

"The U.S. Army Transportation Service troopship Dorchester was torpedoed in the North Atlantic, 100 miles south of Greenland, on the night of February 3, 1943. As a former luxury liner, the ship went down quickly. Of the 900 passengers and crew, 597 were military personnel, and four of those men were the ship's chaplains—Methodist senior chaplain George Lansing Fox, rabbi Alexander Goode, Dutch Reformed minister Clark V. Poling and John P. Washington, a Roman Catholic priest. Each chaplain distributed life vests as the ship went down and then gave up their own when supply ran out. (There were approximately 200 survivors.)"

[Nancy Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In telling stories from the past, the acts of heroes are often overstated and embellished. This can be particularly true of war stories. But there are times when facts cannot be refuted, and when heroes are truly as brave and selfless as they have been painted.

Dan Kurzman's telling of the story of The Four Chaplains who went down with the USAT Dorchester in World War II is backed by innumerable accounts of surviving witnesses. The four interfaith Army chaplains -- Protestant, Catholic and Jewish -- worked together to save countless lives after the troop ship carrying over 900 men was torpedoed by a German U-boat in the dark of a frigid night off the coast of Newfoundland. They calmed terrified men, tended to the wounded and, in the end, surrendered their own lives by taking off their life jackets and handing them to others.

The author's driving narrative account of this tragedy, which resulted in the loss of 672 men, interwoven with biographies of the four chaplains leading up to their moment of heroism, reads like the best of Jon Krakauer or Sebastian Junger. It is true-life nonfiction told within the compelling conventions of fiction. I was saddened to learn that Dan Kurzman himself died last December, yet glad that he lived long enough to tell this inspiring, and utterly true, story.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is an account of 4 military chaplains and their heroic nature as the ship they were traveling in, The Gloucester, was torpedoed in the North Atlantic in February of 1943. A Catholic Priest, Dutch Reformed Priest, Methodist Priest, and Jewish Rabbi gave their life vests to men who didn’t have them and linked arms on the deck of the ship as it sank. Kurzman researched each of the chaplains and told of their boyhood and their decision to be a chaplain after WWII started. These were exceptionally kind men whose goal was be unified in how they treated the men despite their differences in religion. The book talks of each of them before they joined the service as chaplains and how they also related to the men on board ship before the torpedo struck. There is an account of the survivors in the water after the ship was torpedoed and they were awaiting to be rescued. Only about 200 survived out of about 1000 on board the ship.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to this book on the way to work. It is about 4 chaplains of different faith who sacrificed their lives during WWII when their ship was hit by a torpedo in the North Atlantic. I was amazed by their bravery and don't want to underestimate the sacrifice. However, this was overshadowed for me with the underlying message the author gives, going off of the chaplains own words, regarding the equality of all religions. Over and over the book talked about each religion being a good way to get to heaven and constantly reinforced the idea that the greatest good is peace on earth through any way/religion. I pray God gives me the ability to sacrifice for others like these chaplains, but I am fully convinced there is only one way to heaven as well as peace on earth--through Jesus Christ alone.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to this story. The tale of the four chaplains is inspiring but the heroic efforts of so many of the men on this ships in this convoy were also amazing. For me, it was not only the sacrifice of the chaplains in saving others while the ship was sinking but the way they had each lived their respective lives and the message that they each promoted of learning about other religions and cultures and loving one another because we all worship the same God and He is the Father of each of us.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful, true story of 4 chaplains and their amazing heroism during WWII with the sinking of the Dorchester off of Greenland. They were a Jewish rabbi, Catholic priest and 2 Protestant ministers. It's a story that truly represents the biblical passage, Malachi 2:10 (which was chiseled on one of the numerous memorials dedicated to them here in the U.S.)...all faiths working together for one God and the betterment of man.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tragic story of four chaplains who died in the the sinking of the Dorcester in WWII. It was hard to read the accounts of the men who were there who had to witness the needless deaths of so many of their comrades. Many died because they were left in the water too long, which was due to one captain holding back the cutters meant to rescue them.

[Richard Bales · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing book with personal ties to my family. My uncle(my mother's brother) was one of the many soldiers who died about the Dorchester on its way to Greenland. The ship was sunk by a German submarine on Feb 3, 1943. To my uncle, Joel Ralph Barlow, it was an honor to know of your sacrifices through this book.

[SuzanneG]

Pete is listening to the audio book, so I thought I'd at least start this one in conjunction with the Year-for-Priests celebration. I'm excited about it.....perused the websites about it, as well as looked at the US Postage Stamp that was created to commemorate them! Fascinating Stuff!

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating exploration of an event in war history most are probably unaware of and a poignant reminder that sometimes humanity is capable of rising above its base instincts in acts of monumental heroic love.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

The event and sacrifices are tragic and inspirational, but sometimes the rhapsodizing is a bit too much. Your milage may vary.

[Katy Budget Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moving book about a little known story of great courage during WWII.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a day to finish. We all can't go down with a ship, but we can do something for others while we're alive. Do now so memories of you will live on after your last breath.