U.S. troops and others take on a nearly 19-mile Norwegian ruck march during the Four Chaplains event at Osan Air Base, South Korea, on May 18, 2024. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)
OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea — A recent run and ruck march on this installation south of Seoul honored four chaplains who gave their lives rescuing people caught in one of the worst sea disasters of World War II.
The Four Chaplains Run and Ruck started Saturday with a Norwegian foot march of nearly 19 miles while carrying a 25-pound load, followed by a half-marathon and a family-friendly run.
It drew more than 500 airmen, soldiers, Space Force guardians, civilians and South Korean troops, according to a post on Osan’s official Facebook page.
Two chaplains assigned to Osan’s 51st Fighter Wing — Lt. Col. James Galyon and Capt. Mark Bradshaw — organized the event in memory of the Four Chaplains of the SS Dorchester.
The ship, requisitioned as a troop carrier during the war, went down off Greenland on Feb. 3, 1943. It had been torpedoed by a German U-boat.
An American airman takes on a nearly 19-mile Norwegian ruck march during the Four Chaplains event at Osan Air Base, South Korea, on May 18, 2024. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)
The four Army chaplains — John Washington, Alexander Goode, George Fox and Clarke Poling — remained calm as the Dorchester began to sink. They passed out life preservers and helped others overboard, according to The Army Historical Foundation website.
Of the 900 people aboard, about 230 survived.
After giving away their own life preservers, the four chaplains — a Roman Catholic, a Jew and two Protestants — prayed together as the ship disappeared.
Galyon, who wanted to organize a half-marathon dedicated to the chaplains’ memory, shared his vision with Bradshaw, a certified triathlon coach, and the two brought the event to fruition, Galyon told Stars and Stripes on May 16.
“It was not just the fact that they were willing to sacrifice themselves for the sake of others, but the way that they led before their deaths before the Dorchester went down,” he said.
To prepare for the run and ruck, Bradshaw created training groups and adapted Air Force marathon training with his own program to tailor a plan for the event.
Tech. Sgt. Jeffery Herron of the 8th Security Forces Squadron at Kunsan Air Base finishes first in a nearly 19-mile Norwegian foot march during the Four Chaplains event at Osan Air Base, South Korea, on May 18, 2024. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)
Tech. Sgt. Jeffery Herron of the 8th Security Forces Squadron at Kunsan Air Base celebrates his first-place finish in a Norwegian foot march at Osan Air Base, South Korea, on May 18, 2024. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)
Bradshaw said he hoped the training would make a positive impact on the participants’ resilience against adversity and their sense of purpose.
“Challenging yourself to do something that a few months ago seemed maybe impossible comes together into a winning combination for what this event is meant to be,” he said.
The training began in early February with about 20 people doing mostly weekend and some midweek runs.
“To me, it was a good time, you know, challenging but really enjoyable to be able to do it with other people out there as well,” Master Sgt. Belinda Mercado Rivera, a flight chief for Osan’s protocol office, said May 16.
The top time for the half-marathon — one hour, 30 minutes — was recorded by Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Doyle of 7th Air Force’s 607th Air Operations Center.
“I’ve seen some Army people out here and everyday people from other bases, so it’s a good opportunity to connect with other people,” he told Stars and Stripes at the event.
The fastest time in the Norwegian foot march — three hours, 21 minutes — went to Tech. Sgt. Jeffery Herron of the 8th Security Forces Squadron at Kunsan Air Base.
“I’m happy with my performance, to say the least, but I know I must give a shout out to all the people I’ve been training with,” he said.
