When Time Stood Still: The Sinking of the S.S. Dorchester

By: Chester J. Szymczak

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Synopsis: When Time Stood Still, first published in 1956, is the account of the sinking of the S.S. Dorchester, an army transport ship, by a German submarine in the North Atlantic in February 1943. Author and crewman Chester Szymczak was working aboard the Dorchester, and was one of nine survivors of the crew of 23. Tragically, of the 900 military servicemen traveling aboard as passengers, 678 were lost in the frigid waters. Also of note was the presence of four chaplains, each representing a different faith, who went down with the ship as they worked together in assisting passengers with lifejackets and in helping them get off the rapidly sinking ship. Fortunately, three U.S. Coast Guard Cutters were part of the transport convoy, and were able to pull a number passengers from the sea.