The Pledge of Our Lives

8/4/2019 The Pledge of Our Lives

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In this, the 235th anniversary of the birth of the United States, it will be commonplace to recallthe courageous resolution of the Philadelphia founders as they embarked on a course ofrevolution against the British crown. In particular, we will note the founders' own recognitionof the impending danger as we read their immortal closing lines: “we pledge to each other ourlives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.” Their commitment to national independence was

total, undiluted by selfish considerations, and dear enough that they would be prepared to paythe ultimate price to have it. America, from its very conception, was worth any sacrifice. Today, I am reminded not only of the founders' pledge but also of the many others who knew – even if only abstractly – the value of this nation, and who also offered their lives on its behalf.For some, destiny accepted that offer; for others it did not. However, each of them providespowerful and perpetual witness to the fact that America – founded for freedom and right – demands unceasing vigilance by us all. Please God, we may never be called on to overcome thecrises met by these singular Americans, but we should glory in the fact that they were called -and answered with an integrity that will be a model for our people throughout the centuries.

Here are several of them. --- In the freezing early morning hours of February 3, 1943, a convoy of three US Armytransport ships slowly steamed its way approximately 100 miles off the coast of Greenland,escorted by three Coast Guard cutters. The military had nicknamed the area “Torpedo Alley”and with good cause. At around 1:00 AM, German U-boat 223 fired three long-range torpedoes,one of which slammed directly into the mid-hull of the USS Dorchester . More than 900 Americansoldiers were on board, including four exceptional chaplains: Catholic priest John Washington,Rabbi Alexander Goode, Methodist minister George Fox and Dutch Reformed minister ClarkPoling. Within moments, the chaplains were on deck, braving burning oil and ammonia fumesto organize the troops for evacuation. They began passing out life vests, and eventuallydiscovered there were not enough. They then did what men of God would do: all four chaplainsremoved their own life vests and gave them to others. Witnesses who saw the “ ImmortalChaplains” for the last time reported that the four men had joined arm-in-arm, praying for therescue of the troops as the Dorchester dropped into the sea. Nearly 700 troops were lost in thosebone-freezing waters of the North Atlantic – and 230 survived. In 1960, Congress created a one-time Medal of Valor for the chaplains, posthumously presented to their families. --- Less than a month after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, five men strode energeticallyinto the Navy recruitment office in Des Moines, Iowa, January 3, 1942. They were the brothersSullivan: Joe, Frank, Matt, Al, and oldest brother, George, also known as “Red.” In theirhometown of Waterloo, they were the epitome of young, Irish toughs, as keen to jump into abrawl as walk down the street. They were also inseparable, a fact made clear to the Navy

recruiters when the brothers insisted that they would only join if they could serve together.Despite a Navy policy of separating siblings, all five of the brothers were assigned to the USS

Juneau in the South Pacific. On November 13, 1942, during the Battle of Guadalcanal, the Juneau was struck by a Japanese torpedo and forced to withdraw. As it retreated, a second torpedo hitthe Juneau's ammunition magazine and it instantly exploded. Frank, Joe and Matt Sullivan werekilled that day. Al Sullivan drowned 24 hours later awaiting rescue. Oldest brother George,overwhelmed by grief and driven to madness, later jumped over the side of his life raft four orfive days later. He was never seen again. On January 12, 1943, the Sullivans' father, Tom was



interrupted from going to work by a visit from a Navy lieutenant commander, “I have news foryou about your boys.” “Which one?” the father said. “I'm sorry,” the officer replied, “All five.”To this day, the Navy operates an Aegis guided missile destroyer ship called the USS The

Sullivans. Its motto: “We stick together.”

--- Dying for one's country confers indisputable nobility. Yet, just as much can be conferred onthose who live for their country. In the annals of patriotic heroism, few stand in line before Jesuit priest Joseph T. O'Callahan, professor of mathematics at Boston College. FatherO'Callahan joined the Navy in 1940 and by August, earned the rank of lieutenant in thechaplain corps. In March 1945, he reported aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Franklin. Seventeendays later, the Franklin was hit with two bombs dropped from a lone Japanese aircraft. In

seconds, the hangar deck burst into flames and the ship's ammunition exploded. FatherO'Callahan was severely wounded by a subsequent explosion, yet while bleeding andin mortal pain, he moved deliberately around the burning deck administering the LastRites to wounded sailors. The danger was not over, however, as more fires threatenedthe ship's interior magazines and shells rolled about on the severely listing deck.

O'Callahan quickly gathered whoever he could, and with bare hands, passed super-heated shells to the others so they could be jettisoned into the sea. He personallyorganized a damage control team that soaked the other ammunition holds with seawater to prevent them from exploding. Thousands of lives were saved by this one Jesuitpriest whom his shipmates would universally describe as “the bravest man I eversaw.”Congress agreed, and made O'Callahan the first chaplain of any creed and of anywar in history to receive the Medal of Honor.

--- Finally, no review of this type can conclude without the story of William HarveyCarney. Born a negro slave in 1840 Virginia, Carney was able to attend a secret school

where he was taught to read and write. While still in his teens, Carney used theUnderground Railroad to make his way to Massachusetts and freedom. He was laterable to transport the rest of his family. On New Years Day, 1863, President Lincolnissued the Emancipation Proclamation, and Carney soon joined the Massachusetts 54th Colored Infantry to fight the Confederacy which had once held him enslaved. TheMassachusetts 54th would get their first, greatest test on July 18th, 1863 at the Battle ofFort Wagner, Charleston, South Carolina. During the daylight hours, the infantry tookpositions on the sandy beach north of the fort and waited for the command to attack. Itcame within hours, and Carney and his brothers ran headlong at the building. TheConfederates were waiting, however, and opened fire. Soldiers began dropping toCarney's right and left. One of those was Sergeant John Walls, who had the honor of carrying the stars andstripes to lead the infantry. As Walls was about to fall, Carney came behind him andgrabbed the flag before it reached the sand. Within seconds, a bullet sliced throughCarney's left leg. He paused only a moment, ignored the pain and blood, lifted thecolors high and ran at full speed to reach the fort's entrance. He drove the flagpolefirmly into the ground and looked about for the others – but there were none. He alone



had reached the parapet. For a full 30 minutes, Carney watched and bled as the battlewent on. Soon he saw some men approaching from his left, and believing them to beUnion, he raised the flag high and waved it. They were Confederates – and Carney wasforced to wind the flag around the pole and run for cover. He ended up chest-deep in awatery ditch, pushing his wounded leg to its limit and holding the flag above his head.

A bullet bore into his chest. Another hit his arm. A third bit into his right leg. Carneysoon encountered a soldier from New York's 100th who offered to carry the flag for him,but Carney insisted that only a member of the Massachusetts 54th should carry theircolors. Carney reached safety amid the cheers of his remaining comrades, and as hecollapsed before them, said, “Boys, I only did my duty. The flag never touched theground.” The flag never touched the ground. Is there a better metaphor for our 4th of July thanthat phrase or that bravery? For 235 years, the flag has dipped, rose, been torn, re-sewn,re-designed, carried, burned, and folded over countless coffins, yet – like the country it

calls home - has never fallen to the ground. Carney survived the Civil War and livedout his life as a postal worker in his Massachusetts home. In 1900, he became the firstblack American to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor – a dignified,peaceful final chapter for one of the greatest lives in American history. For us, in ourown way, we too must carry the colors of this country despite the enemies that haveplagued it throughout history. The men described here were not presidents orstatesmen, but were founders nonetheless, and in real, corporal terms pledged theirlives and sacred honor for the American ideal. Now, their spirits turn, gaze earnestlyinto our eyes, and ask: will we do the same?

Documents

The Pledge of Our Lives