Story of the Four Chaplains

On February 3, 1943, the U.S. Army Transport Dorchester was hit by fire from a German submarine U2. The initial blast killed and wounded many men. The rest of the men began to panic and get lifeboats ready.

Four Army chaplains (Lt. George Fox, a Methodist; Lt. Alexander Goode, a Jewish Rabbi; Lt. John Washington, a Roman Catholic Priest; and Lt. Clark Poling, a Dutch Reformed minister) helped the wounded and disoriented, bringing calm to the men. They began distributing life jackets to everyone.

When they ran out of life jackets, the chaplains took off the life jackets they were wearing and gave them to four other men. Survivors who witnessed this said that they did not call out for members of their respective religions; they just gave their life jacket to the next in line.

One survivor even said, "It was the finest thing I have seen or hope to see this side of heaven."

The chaplains stayed behind on the sinking ship, praying and singing hymns. These 4 men each earned posthumous Special Medal for Heroism, The Four Chaplains' Medal, an honor that was never given before, and will never be given again.