SCI’s youngest chaplain at the time, the Rev. Leroy Lawson was appointed Chaplain in the U.S. Maritime Service, with the rank of Ensign. Rev. Lawson was sworn into his position December 6, 1941, one day before the attacks on Pearl Harbor. According to The Lookout: “There have been chaplains in the U. S. Army and Navy for many years, but this is the first official appointment of a Chaplain for the Merchant Marine, and the Institute is proud that one of its staff has received such a signal honor.” In addition to continuing his normal duties with SCI, Rev. Lawson took on the responsibility of working with the thousands of young men training to become merchant seamen at Hoffman Island. [see The Lookout 1942 January http://qcarchives.com/sci/items/show/1261]