The Four Chaplains

On the evening of Feb. 2, 1943, the U.S.A.T. Dorchester, crowded with 902 servicemen, merchant seamen and civilian workers, was torpedoed by a German submarine off the coast of Newfoundland. The transport sank in fire and smoke in 27 minutes.
The ship's crew launched lifeboats and rafts. Many servicemen jumped into the water. Two of the three escort ships, the Coast Guard cutters Comanche and Escanaba, circled the Dorchester rescuing 231 survivors. The third cutter, CGC Tampa, continued on, escorting the remaining two ships in the convoy.
According to those present, four Army chaplains aboard the Dorchester brought hope in despair and light in darkness. Those chaplains were Lt. George L. Fox, Methodist; Lt. Alexander D. Goode, Jewish; Lt. John P. Washington, Roman Catholic; and Lt. Clark V. Poling, Dutch Reformed. Quickly and quietly the four chaplains spread out among the soldiers. There they tried to calm the frightened, tend the wounded and guide the disoriented toward safety.
When most of the men were topside, the chaplains opened a storage locker and began distributing life jackets. When there were no more life jackets in the locker, the chaplains removed theirs and gave them to four frightened young men. As the ship went down, survivors in nearby rafts could see the four chaplains - arms linked and braced against the slanting deck. Their voices could also be heard offering prayers.
The Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart were awarded posthumously on December 19, 1944, to the next of kin by Lt. Gen. Brehon B. Somervell, Commanding General of the Army Service Forces, in a ceremony at the post chapel at Fort Myer, VA.

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