The immortals : the World War II story of five fearless heroes, the sinking of the Dorchester, and an awe-inspiring rescue

During World War II, on January 29, 1943, the SS Dorchester and a small convoy sailed the perilous route from Newfoundland to the Army Command Base in Greenland. Four chaplains were assigned to the Dorchester with more than 900 men on board. Alexander Goode, a Jewish rabbi; John Washington, a Catholic priest; George Fox, a Methodist minister; and Clark Poling, a Baptist minister, all offered comfort, reassurances, and prayers with a warning from the captain that a German submarine was hunting their convoy. The Nazi U-boat captain, Karl-Jurg Wachter, had been stalking the Americans for days When the weather finally gave him an opening, Wachter was in a position to strike. Just past midnight, on February 3, just hours from their destination, the Dorchester was torpedoed and sank, throwing its passengers into the frigid waters and creating the worst single loss of an American personnel convoy during WWII. Many of the survivors credit the four chaplains with saving their lives. Those chaplains would become known as "The Immortal Chaplains" for their heroism in making the ultimate sacrifice. With no thought of themselves, they calmly helped men to safety through the chaos of their badly damaged ship, searched for spare life jackets for those without—eventually giving away their own life jackets and encouraging men in the freezing waters. The celebrated story of the Immortal Chaplains is now joined for the first time in print by the largely untold story of another hero of the sinking of the Dorchester : Charles Walter David, Jr. was a young Black petty officer aboard a Coast Guard cutter traveling with the convoy who bravely dived into the glacial water over and over again, even with hypothermia setting in, to try to rescue the men the chaplains had first helped and inspired to never give up. Through his efforts, he joins the Chaplains as one of "The Immortals." Thoroughly researched and told in an engrossing non-fiction narrative, the book alternates between accounts told from the perspective of the Nazi U-boat captain and his crew (as found in their journals and later interviews), and the hunted—the men of the American convoy. Using his expertise as a law professorspecializing in religious freedom and constitutional law, the author, Steven T. Collis, also paints a thought-provoking portrait of religious life in America during wartime and how American views of faith affected the chaplains and the men they served. Page-turning and inspiring, The Immortals explores the power of faith and religious conviction and powerfully narrates the lives of five heroic men who believed in something greater than themselves, living lives of service and sacrifice for their country and their fellow man. During World War Ii, On January 29, 1943, The Ss Dorchester And A Small Convoy Sailed The Perilous Route From Newfoundland To The Army Command Base In Greenland. Four Chaplains Were Assigned To The Dorchester With More Than 900 Men On Board. Alexander Goode, A Jewish Rabbi; John Washington, A Catholic Priest; George Fox, A Methodist Minister; And Clark Poling, A Baptist Minister, All Offered Comfort, Reassurances, And Prayers With A Warning From The Captain That A German Submarine Was Hunting Their Convoy. The Nazi U-boat Captain, Karl-jurg Wachter, Had Been Stalking The Americans For Days. When Bad Weather Separated The Dorchester From The Other Convoy Ships, Wachter Was Finally In A Position To Strike. Just Past Midnight, On February 3, Just Hours From Their Destination, The Dorchester Was Torpedoed And Sank, Throwing Its Passengers Into The Frigid Waters And Creating The Worst Single Loss Of An American Personnel Convoy During Wwii. Many Of The Survivors Credit The Four Chaplains With Saving Their Lives. Those Chaplains Would Become Known As The Immortals For Their Heroism In Making The Ultimate Sacrifice. With No Thought Of Themselves, They Calmly Helped Men To Safety Through The Chaos Of Their Badly Damaged Ship, Searched For Spare Life Jackets For Those Without--eventually Giving Away Their Own Life Jackets And Encouraging Men In The Freezing Waters. The Celebrated Story Of The Immortals Is Now Joined For The First Time In Print By The Largely Untold Story Of Another Hero Of The Sinking Of The Dorchester: Charles Walter Davis Jr. Was A Young Black Petty Officer Aboard A Coast Guard Cutter Traveling With The Convoy Who Bravely Dived Into The Glacial Water Over And Over Again, Even With Hypothermia Setting In, To Try To Rescue The Men The Chaplains Had First Helped And Inspired To Never Give Up. Thoroughly Researched And Told In An Engrossing Non-fiction Narrative, The Book Alternates Between Accounts Told From The Perspective Of The Nazi U-boat Captain And His Crew, And The Hunted--the Men Of The American Convoy. Using His Expertise As An Attorney Specializing In Religious Freedom And Constitutional Law, The Author, Steven T. Collis, Also Paints A Thought-provoking Portrait Of Religious Life In America During Wartime And How American Views Of Faith Affected The Chaplains And The Men They Served. Page-turning And Inspiring, The Immortals Explores The Power Of Faith And Religious Conviction And Powerfully Narrates The Lives Of Five Heroic Men Who Believed In Something Greater Than Themselves, Living Lives Of Service And Sacrifice For Their Country And Their Fellow Man. During World War II, on January 29, 1943, the __SS Dorchester__ and a small convoy sailed the perilous route from Newfoundland to the Army Command Base in Greenland. Four chaplains were assigned to the __Dorchester__ with more than 900 men on board. Alexander Goode, a Jewish rabbi; John Washington, a Catholic priest; George Fox, a Methodist minister; and Clark Poling, a Baptist minister, all offered comfort, reassurances, and prayers with a warning from the captain that a German submarine was hunting their convoy. The Nazi U-boat captain, Karl-Jurg Wachter, had been stalking the Americans for days When the weather finally gave him an opening, Wachter was in a position to strike. The celebrated story of the Immortal Chaplains is now joined for the first time in print by the largely untold story of another hero of the sinking of the __Dorchester__: Charles Walter David, Jr. was a young Black petty officer aboard a Coast Guard cutter traveling with the convoy who bravely dived into the glacial water over and over again, even with hypothermia setting in, to try to rescue the men the chaplains had first helped and inspired to never give up. Through his efforts, he joins the Chaplains as one of "The Immortals." Page-turning and inspiring, __The Immortals__ explores the power of faith and religious conviction and powerfully narrates the lives of five heroic men who believed in something greater than themselves, living lives of service and sacrifice for their country and their fellow man. During World War II, four chaplains were assigned to the SS Dorchester with more than 900 men on board. Alexander Goode, a Jewish rabbi; John Washington, a Catholic priest; George Fox, a Methodist minister; and Clark Poling, a Baptist minister, all offered comfort, reassurances, and prayers along with a warning from the captain that a German submarine was hunting their convoy. Thoroughly researched and told in an engrossing nonfiction narrative, this true story alternates between accounts told from the perspective of the Nazi U-boat captain and his crew (as found in their journals and later interviews) and survivors from the Dorchester who credit the four chaplains with saving their lives after their ship was torpedoed. The celebrated story of the men who became known as the Immortal Chaplains is now joined for the first time in print by the largely untold story of another hero: Charles Walter David Jr. A young Black petty officer aboard a coast guard cutter traveling with the Dorchester , Charles bravely dived into the glacial water over and over again, even with hypothermia setting in, to try to rescue those the chaplains had inspired to never give up. Page-turning and inspiring, The Immortals explores the power of both faith and sacrifice and powerfully narrates the lives of five heroic men who believed in something greater than themselves, giving their all for people of vastly different beliefs and backgrounds. 1943. The SS Dorchester and a small convoy sailed the route from Newfoundland to the Army Command Base in Greenland; a German submarine was hunting the convoy. Four chaplains were assigned to the Dorchester with more than 900 men on board: Alexander Goode, a Jewish rabbi; John Washington, a Catholic priest; George Fox, a Methodist minister; and Clark Poling, a Baptist minister. February 3, just hours from their destination, the Dorchester was torpedoed and sank. The chaplains helped men to safety through the chaos of their badly damaged ship, searched for spare life jackets for those without, and eventually gave away their own life jackets while encouraging men in the freezing waters. Charles Walter David, Jr., a Black petty officer aboard a Coast Guard cutter traveling with the convoy, dived into the glacial water even as hypothermia set in, to try to rescue the men. Collis explore the power of faith and religious conviction to tell the lives of five men who believed in living lives of service and sacrifice for their country and their fellow man. -- adapted from Amazon info The story of the heroic actions of chaplains George Fox, Alexander Goode, John Washington, and Clark Poling of the Dorchester and steward's mate Charles W. David Jr. of the Comanche in the aftermath of a German submarine attack during World War II