History's Lessons gain new meaning in humanitarian award
Three people were honored in a ceremony at Adath Jeshurun Synagogue.
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By Lauri Winters
Sun Newspapers
History lessons came to life in the hushed silence of a Minnetonka synagogue Feb. 7
as the 1943 sinking of the troopship U.S.S. Dorchester was recalled in detail. The selfless acts of four military chaplains aboard that ship have been commemorated in The Immortal Chaplains Prize for
Humanity. Presentations were made in an emotionfilled program at Adath Jeshurun Synagogue. Among the nearly 300 people attending the award ceremony were two survivors of the Dorchester's sinking; the widow and
daughter of one of the chaplains; and a man who served aboard a rescue ship. The award is "given to those who have risked their lives to protect others of a different race or religion," according to the
event's program. When the troopship was hit by a torpedo from a German submarine, the four chaplains calmed the Dorchester's crewmen, distributed life jackets, then removed their own life jackets and gave them to others.
They died, along with 675 other men who were aboard the ship. The four clergymen, George Fox, Clark Poling, Alexander Goode, and John Washington two
Protestant ministers, a Jewish rabbi and a Catholic priest, have become known as the Immortal Chaplains. Their deaths were immortalized by the posthumous presentation of the Congressional Medal
of Valor, a 3cent postage stamp, commemorative windows such as those at Ft. Snelling and the Pentagon, and chapels constructed in their memory.
This was the inaugural presentation of the humanity prize named in their honor. Three people were selected as recipients. They are: Charles W. David Jr., who served on the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Comanche, which came to
the aid of the Dorchester. He repeatedly dove into the icy water in darkness to pull Dorchester survivors, who were numbed by the cold, to safety. David died at age 26 of
pneumonia following his exposure to the extreme conditions during the rescue effort. A shipmate of David's, Richard Swanson, came from Nebraska to accept the humanity prize.
The award committee has been unable to find any living relatives of David's, who was from New York City. Abiding by the Coast Guard motto, "Always Ready," Swanson said he was
prepared to go anywhere in the world to present the prize to a member of David's family. "He was a big man with a big heart," said Swanson, remembering his shipmate, who was
black. "I'll never forget him. He was a man who rose above the prejudice of the day to save others regardless of their race and lost his life in the process."
Amy Biehl, an American Fulbright Scholar, was stoned to death in South Africa in 1993. She had gone to South Africa to help in the struggle against apartheid and work with
disenfranchised voters. She especially was interested in helping women ensure that their interests were protected. Her parents have established a foundation and the Youth on
Violence Center to continue their daughter's work in South Africa. Her parents, Peter and Linda Biehl, came from California to accept the award in her memory.
"We are an example of the old adage, 'a child shall lead you,"' said Peter. "In this case Amy has led us down the most incredible road."
Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa was recognized for defending the rights of oppressed people in many nations. Tutu, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984, travels the world promoting reconciliation between nations.
"What have I done?" he asked when he was summoned to accept his award. Tutu, who was making his first visit to the Twin Cities, serves as international patron on the
foundation board for the Immortal Chaplains humanitarian prize. He explained his interest in the four chaplains during a news conference before the award ceremony.
"It is the wonder of human beings," he said. "They did what they did almost instinctively. It makes us proud to be a human being. You hope you would respond in a similar way. Human
beings are made for goodness, for love. That's the way God made us." He said he was surprised by the award, which was presented to him by Theresa Goode Kaplan, widow of the Dorchester's Jewish rabbi.
"I am speechless," Tutu said. He then added with his characteristic humor, "I suspect there are very many people who wish it would become a permanent affliction."
Before the award ceremony, he advised adults to set a good example for children. "Parents need to become more humane, because children copy so much from us", he said.
"Children don't come in the world knowing how to hate, knowing how to kill. They learn it from adults."
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The Foundation Board
A Minnesota Non-Profit Organization
Not Affiliated With the Chapel of Four Chaplains, PA
