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Putnam County recognizes Four Chaplains Day; Patterson American Legion vice commander recounts WWII rescue story
Summary
The legislature issued a proclamation recognizing Four Chaplains Day; Andrew Giusteffano, vice commander of Patterson American Legion Post 1542, recounted the 1943 Dorchester sinking and the rescue of Coast Guardsman Charles David.
Putnam County legislators read a proclamation recognizing Four Chaplains Day on Feb. 3, recalling the 1943 sinking of the U.S. Army transport Dorchester and honoring four chaplains who gave life jackets to other servicemen as the ship went down.
After the proclamation was read, Andrew Giusteffano, identified in the meeting as vice commander of Patterson American Legion Post 1542 and a veteran of Operation Desert Storm, spoke about the episode and related acts of heroism. Giusteffano described how the four chaplains distributed life jackets and ultimately removed their own life jackets to give to other servicemen as the Dorchester sank, and he highlighted the actions of Coast Guardsman First Class Charles David, who repeatedly dove into frigid water to rescue shipmates and later died of pneumonia.
Giusteffano noted that the story has not been widely taught and said recent efforts to memorialize rescuers include the naming of a U.S. Coast Guard Sentinel-class cutter after Charles David. Chairwoman Amy Sage and others acknowledged the remarks as part of the county’s observance of Black History Month and the ceremony.
The transcript records the proclamation and Giusteffano’s remarks; it does not include a roll-call vote on the proclamation in the meeting record.
