The Four Chaplains Who Gave Their Lives on the USS Dorchester
From left to right: Lt Poling, Lt Goode, Lt Washington and Lt. Fox
The sacrifice of four men of God to quiet the panic and fear of World War II soldiers aboard a sinking ship has forever left its mark indelibly engraved on the minds of all who hear the story. It is a story of brotherly love and sacrifice ... and the power of faith in a moment of tragedy.
On February 3, 1943, the USS Dorchester would become another statistic in the 'ships-lost-at-sea' column. But unlike others before it, what would take place on deck of the Dorchester would become a significant event for all time.
Pushing through the treacherous waters with 905 American servicemen aboard bound for Greenland, the Dorchester left its convoy a few hours short of its destination, not an unusual maneuver. A Nazi submarine, stalking the ship undetected, took this opportunity to fire a torpedo straight toward the ship's flank. The missile struck amid ships and exploded in the boiler room. Many on board died instantly. Some were trapped below deck. Others, jolted from their bunks, half asleep, clambered to reach the decks of the stricken vessel. The ship, taking on water rapidly, began listing to starboard. Because security reasons prevented use of distress flares, escort vessels, still close enough to assist, pushed on into the darkness, unaware that the Dorchester was sinking. Overcrowded lifeboats capsized; rafts drifted away before anyone could reach them.
On deck, amid confusion and terror, Army Chaplains George L. Fox, Alexander D. Goode, Clark V. Poling and John P. Washington moved about calming frightened men, directing bewildered soldiers to lifeboats, and distributing life jackets with calm precision. Soon, the supply of jackets was exhausted, yet four young soldiers, afraid and without life vests, stood waiting. Quickly the chaplains stripped off their own and forced them upon the young soldiers.
The four men of God (one Catholic, one Jewish and two Protestant) had given away their only means of saving themselves in order to save others. Men rowing away from the sinking ship in lifeboats saw the chaplains clinging to each other on the slanting deck. Their arms were linked together, their heads were bowed as they prayed to the one God whom each of them loved and served.
The Dorchester sank beneath the icy waters of the North Atlantic, carrying with it the four chaplains and some 675 servicemen.
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"