Feb. 3, 1943, is a day that will be long remembered in the annals of military history. It has been noted as one of the worst disasters in war. The luxury liner Dorchester was converted into an Army troop transport during World War II. It was making its way to Newfoundland carrying 902 servicemen, merchant seamen and civilian workers. It was only 150 miles from its destination when tragedy struck.
The torpedo from a U-2 submarine hit Dorchester far below the water line of the ship, killing a number of men initially and creating panic among the men below decks. Aboard the ship were four 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.
Quickly and quietly, they went among the wounded, giving aid and trying to calm them down. They helped the men below decks get topside. The cold winds of the North Atlantic blew with a rage, chilling some of them as they were in different stages of clothing, some even in their underwear.
Once topside, the chaplains opened up a locker and started passing out life preservers and then started to help the civilians and troops get into the lifeboats as the ship started sinking. In an act of bravery, they even gave up their own life preservers to four young, very scared men. Almost as if it was ordained to help others survive. Of the 902 men, only 230 survived.
Survivors riding in lifeboats recall seeing the four chaplains, arms linked together, as the ship continued sinking. They were heard praying for the safety of the survivors and for the souls of the men who perished. And it was said they then starting singing hymns even as the deck started slanting, bracing themselves with arms locked as if their faiths were as one, men of God ready to meet their maker. All four of the chaplains perished that day.
They were all awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Purple Heart posthumously. Congress tried to award them the Medal of Honor, but that is reserved for heroes in battle under fire. Congress then created a special medal for heroism just for them: “The Four Chaplains Medal.” It was awarded by then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower only two days before he left office and has never been awarded since.