Navy Religious Program Specialists Celebrate Heritage

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Navy Religious Program Specialists Celebrate Heritage

By Journalist 1st Class (SW/AW) Sybil McCarrol, Naval Air Station Meridian Public Affairs

MERIDIAN, Miss. (NNS) -- The religious program specialist (RP) rating officially celebrated its 26th birthday Jan. 14.

The Naval Technical Training Center RP "A" schoolhouse staff and instructors held a special birthday celebration complete with cake for the RP students. The instructors read an empowering message from the Chief of Navy Chaplains, Rear Adm. L.V. Iasiello.

"As you celebrate the anniversary of the religious program specialist rating, we ask you to reflect on the many contributions that your community has made in this time of war and national emergency, and the myriad ways you facilitated the spiritual and ministerial needs of the Navy and Marine Corps," said Iasiello in his message. "You are a professional and combat rating, and you serve with dedication and devotion."

Chief Religious Program Specialist (FMF) Dino Medler, RP "A" school course instructor, feels that the message from Iasiello is an inspiration to his students, because they could soon be involved with current world events.

"The message from Rear Adm. L.V. Iasiello rings true. So far, two RPs have earned the Bronze Star for their heroic acts during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)," explained Medler. "The RP rating, or chaplain's assistant, is establishing a rich heritage, and truly has the ability to reach our shipmates in intangible ways.

"Now is a great time, as we celebrate the origin of our rating, our unique accomplishments, and the ability to reach out to our shipmates in need," added Medler. "We know we truly have something to be proud of."

The concept of a chaplain's assistant dates back to 1878, when a committee of chaplains recommended to the Navy Department that a chaplain's assistant be assigned to each ship wherever a chaplain was aboard. This assistant would have been a schoolmaster who could play organ music and lead singing.

Although the recommendation was not adopted, the idea was given support by successive generations of chaplains.

In 1942, the Navy Department established the specialist (W) rating to assist Navy chaplains. (W) referred to welfare, and was intended only to last for the duration of World War II.

Specialist (W) qualifications included the ability to play the piano and organ for religious services and other gatherings, and to be a competent choir director. Specialists (W) did not exercise any of the ministerial functions of the clergy, and were not expected to serve as religious leaders.

Today, religious program specialists are afforded a greater variety of duty assignments, including serving aboard numerous types of naval vessels and tours of duty with the Navy Seabee, Fleet Marine Force units and Coast Guard. The religious program specialist rating was officially established Jan. 15, 1979.

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The Four Chaplains Who Gave Their Lives on the USS Dorchester

The sacrifice of four men of God to quiet the panic and fear of World War II soldiers aboard a sinking ship has forever left its mark indelibly engraved on the minds of all who hear the story. It is a story of brotherly love and sacrifice ... and the power of faith in a moment of tragedy.

On February 3, 1943, the USS Dorchester would become another statistic in the 'ships-lost-at-sea' column. But unlike others before it, what would take place on deck of the Dorchester would become a significant event for all time.

Pushing through the treacherous waters with 905 American servicemen aboard bound for Greenland, the Dorchester left its convoy a few hours short of its destination, not an unusual maneuver. A Nazi submarine, stalking the ship undetected, took this opportunity to fire a torpedo straight toward the ship's flank. The missile struck amid ships and exploded in the boiler room. Many on board died instantly. Some were trapped below deck. Others, jolted from their bunks, half asleep, clambered to reach the decks of the stricken vessel. The ship, taking on water rapidly, began listing to starboard. Because security reasons prevented use of distress flares, escort vessels, still close enough to assist, pushed on into the darkness, unaware that the Dorchester was sinking. Overcrowded lifeboats capsized; rafts drifted away before anyone could reach them.

On deck, amid confusion and terror, Army Chaplains George L. Fox, Alexander D. Goode, Clark V. Poling and John P. Washington moved about calming frightened men, directing bewildered soldiers to lifeboats, and distributing life jackets with calm precision. Soon, the supply of jackets was exhausted, yet four young soldiers, afraid and without life vests, stood waiting. Quickly the chaplains stripped off their own and forced them upon the young soldiers.

The four men of God (one Catholic, one Jewish and two Protestant) had given away their only means of saving themselves in order to save others. Men rowing away from the sinking ship in lifeboats saw the chaplains clinging to each other on the slanting deck. Their arms were linked together, their heads were bowed as they prayed to the one God whom each of them loved and served.

The Dorchester sank beneath the icy waters of the North Atlantic, carrying with it the four chaplains and some 675 servicemen.

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This Week In History:
“On that day… a few lucky men saw what God had in mind when He created us in His image”

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