Bound for glory and eternity
Four winds blowing on a stormy sea
Faith, hope and love; a job well done
Four winds blowing with the spirit of one
Setting out into the dark of night
A ship filled with men prepared to fight
Ready to die to keep men free
It was January 22, 1943
George Lansing Fox, Veteran at arms
Heeding the call of duty’s alarm
He tells his wife, I must go
What these boys are facing, I already know.
David Goode, Rabbi, leader of men
Carries the haunting memories of a boy of ten
Watching the burial of a soldier with no name
Igniting forever in his heart, the sacred fire
Of freedoms flame
Clark Poling, exuberant soul, outgoing and free
Responding to the call of a higher decree
Tells his father---don’t pray for the safe
Return of your son
But that I fulfill my duty---- and be counted
Worthy of a job well done
Father John Washington at the age of twelve
Was on the brink of death, but his life prevailed
Knowing that God had something special for him to do
He set sail with the Dorchester during World War II
The ship cut a path through icy waters
The enemy was all around
The young warriors were anxious and nervous
Not knowing where they were bound
And through the valley of the shadow of death
Sailed the ship into the silent night
And with the courage and strength that comes from above
Stand the chaplains----four Holy beacons of light
Then suddenly the ship was hit
It was a mortal wound
She was sinking, sinking fast
Down to her final doom
Stricken with panic
From the deadly blow
Men were screaming and yelling
As they ran to and fro
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Amidst the raging chaos, anguish, fear and pain
Suddenly appeared four chaplains----calmly standing----
As if in the eye of a hurricane
They spoke forth words of courage
To men who were on the verge of death
Their voices rang not with an earthly sound
But were blessed with a Heavenly breath
They handed out the lifejackets
Until they were all gone
And then the soldiers watched in awe
As they handed out their own
They braced against the slanted deck
Arm in arm----side by side
They lifted up their hearts to Heaven
To the Father in whose love they did abide
Other men drew close to them
Their panic and fear replaced
By the emanating presence
Of God’s Holy peace and grace
In Hebrew, Latin and English
Their voices began to pray
Reaching out to the very same God
Each in his own way
The stern came high out of the water
The Dorchester slid down into the sea
Six hundred and five men were lost
Four chaplains were set free
They saw no Protestant, Catholic, or Jew
Only men in need
They joined together in brotherhood
And fulfilled a noble deed
Four winds blowing
On life’s stormy sea
Four spirits bound for glory
In God’s eternity
Four winds blowing
Crying out a job well done
Four spirits bound together
With the spirit of the one