Four Chaplains Day
Four Chaplains Day honors four military chaplains from World War II who sacrificed their lives for fellow service members on February 3rd each year.
Chaplains in the military are an integral part of the service environment. They provide counseling, spiritual direction, practice services, and religious rites, among other things, and are present all around the world. If there are military troops stationed there, chaplains are also present.
Four chaplains from Harvard's Chaplain School together at Harvard boarded the Dorchester en route to the Army Command Base in southern Greenland during World War II. 904 service members were aboard the ship.
Father John P. Washington of the Roman Catholic Church of America, Reverend George L. Fox, a Methodist minister, Reverend Clark V. Poling of the Reformed Church of America, Rabbi Alexander D. Goode, and Father John P. Washington were among the four chaplains. Their voyage began on January 23, 1943, and they continued on January 23, 1943. At the time, German U-Boats were patrolling the area, and the convoy was on alert, and German U-Boats were patrolling the area. Chaos ensued when a German submarine torpedoed the Dorchester off the coast of Newfoundland on February 3, 1943.
Eyewitnesses reenacted the chaplains' heroism, including the gift of their life jackets and gloves to other service members. They pleaded with service members, assisting them in lifeboats and assisting them in lifeboats. The four chaplains remained on the sinking Dorchester. Only 230 men were rescued from the waters, and only 230 were rescued from the sea.
In 1960, the four chaplains were given the Medal of Honor by Congress.
How to be aware of #fourchaplainsday
- Read about the four chaplains in books such as No Greater Glory: The Four Immortal Chaplains and the Sinking of the Dorchester in World War II by Dan Kurzman or Sea of Glory by Ken Wales
- Watch Four Chaplains: Sacrifice at Sea
- Visit exhibits on the four chaplains including the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, The Chapel of the Four Chaplains in Philadelphia, or Pioneer Chapel at Fort Leavenworth, where a stained glass window recalls the chaplains
- The four chaplains were honoured at memorial services
He fourth chaplains day in history
In 1988, Congress unanimously established Four Chaplains Day, which is observed annually on February 3rd.
