The four United States Army first lieutenant chaplains
(Roman Catholic priest Father John P. Washington, Methodist
minister the Reverend George L. Fox, Reform Rabbi Alexander
D. Goode, and Reformed Church in America minister the
Reverend Clark V. Poling) ... met at the Army Chaplains
School at Harvard University.
They were aboard the troop ship SS Dorchester for their new
assignments in the World War II Europe theater, when the
ship was hit by a torpedo from a German U-boat in the
Labrador Sea on February 3, 1943. The chaplains helped other
soldiers board lifeboats and gave up their own life jackets
when the supply ran out ... committing the ultimate act of
selflessness and courage ... giving their lives to save
civilian and military personnel ... remaining aboard the
sinking ship.
Each were posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service
Cross ... second only to the Medal of Honor.
The are also referred to as the... "Immortal Chaplains" and
"Dorchester Chaplains".
U.S. Department of Defense video by Scott Howe Edit by USA Patriotism!
