www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Four Chaplains Day

Today is the 71st anniversary of the deaths of four United States Army chaplains who gave their lives to save other civilian and military personnel during the sinking of the troop ship USAT Dorchester on February 3, 1943, during World War II. They helped other soldiers board lifeboats and gave up their own life jackets when the supply ran out. The chaplains joined arms, said prayers, and sang hymns as they went down with the ship.

Remember these men:

Father John P. Washington
Rabbi Alexander D. Goode (Ph.D)
Rev. George L. Fox (Methodist)
Rev. Clark V. Poling(Reformed Church in America)

Eternal Memory!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Chaplains

May the memory of the Four Immortal Chaplains be eternal!

Rabbi Alexander D. Goode had served the Jewish community of my home town prior to the war.

My grandfather was the School Board President at that time and through the 1950's, and oversaw the construction of a new elementrary school dedicated to Rabbi Goode's memory. The foyer of the building is dominated by a magnificent baked tile mural of the Four Chaplains standing on the doomed ship.

As a young lad I was shown that mural several times and each time told the story of their sacrifices.

Formation!