Four Chaplains’ Day
In working as an ASVAB tutor, I like to mention the different holidays that recognize the U.S military. Today is February 3, Four Chaplain’s Day. This day is celebrated every year to remember the four Army chaplains who acted in the spirit of heroism onboard a sinking ship during World War II. In 1943, the U.S.A.T Dorchester was crossing the Atlantic and a German submarine fired a torpedo at the ship, sinking it and killing the hundreds who were on the ship.
The Four Chaplains who were on board the ship were Reverend George L. Fox, a Methodist minister; Rabbi Alexandre D. Goode, a Jewish Rabbi, Father Walker John P. Washington, a Catholic priest, and Reverend Clark V. Poling, a minister of the Dutch Reformed Church. In the midst of the tragedy, they offered their support and prayers for the people onboard.
They offered their life jackets to four people and had to remain aboard the sinking ship to lost their lives. In 1944, the U.S. government posthumously awarded the Four Chaplains the Purple Heart and Distinguished Service Cross medals. In 1998, the senate made Four Chaplains’ Day official, honoring these four heroes.
