NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Four Chaplains

The Four Chaplains were four Army chaplains who gave their lives when the USAT Dorchester was hit by a torpedo and sank on February 3, 1943. They helped other soldiers board lifeboats and gave up their life jackets when the supply ran out. 230 men of the 902 aboard survived the attack. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The United States Army is one of the armed forces of the United States and has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... USAT Dorchester was a United States Army Transport, sunk when it was part of a naval convoy during World War II. In February 1943, Convoy SG-19 left St. ... February 3 is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ...

Who they were

The chaplains were Lieutenants Rev. George L. Fox (Methodist); Rabbi Alexander D. Goode (Jewish); Fr. John P. Washington (Roman Catholic); and Rev. Clark V. Poling (Dutch Reformed). The four chaplains were all sailing on the USAT Dorchester troop transport ship on 3 February 1943 when the vessel was torpedoed by the German U-Boat U-223. As the vessel sank, the four chaplains calmed the frightened soldiers and sailors, aided in the evacuation of the ship, and helped guide wounded men to safety. The chaplains also gave up their own life vests. A survivor of the sinking, Engineer Grady Clark later recalled, Lieutenant is a military, naval, paramilitary, fire service or police officer rank. ... Rev. ... Four Chaplains For other people named George L. Fox, see George Fox (disambiguation). ... The Methodist movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity. ... Rabbi, in Judaism, means teacher, or more literally great one. The word Rabbi is derived from the Hebrew root word ×¨Ö·×‘, rav, which in biblical Hebrew means great or distinguished (in knowledge). Sephardic and Yemenite Jews pronounce this word ×¨Ö´×‘Ö´Ö¼×™ ribbÄ«; the modern Israeli pronunciation ×¨Ö·×‘Ö´Ö¼×™ rabbÄ« is derived from a recent (18th... Four Chaplains Alexander D. Goode (10 May 1911 - 3 February 1943) was a chaplain in the United States Army during the Second World War who was killed in action when the troopship USAT Dorchester was sunk by the German submarine U-223 during the battle of the Atlantic. ... The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination... Father with child For other uses, see Father (disambiguation). ... Four Chaplains John P. Washington (18 July 1908 - 3 February 1943) was a Roman Catholic priest and a lieutenant in the United States Army who found posthumous fame as one of the Four Chaplains who died administering to their soldiers on the sinking USAT Dorchester during the Second World War. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Four Chaplains Clark V. Poling (7 August 1910 - 3 February 1943) was a Dutch Reformed minister and lieutenant in the United States Army, who became famous during the Second World War as one of the Four Chaplains who gave their lives to save other soldiers during the sinking of the... The Dutch Reformed Church or Netherlands Reformed Church (in Dutch: Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk (NHK)) is a denomination of Christian Protestantism based on the teachings of John Calvin. ... USAT Dorchester was a United States Army Transport, sunk when it was part of a naval convoy during World War II. In February 1943, Convoy SG-19 left St. ... February 3 is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... A modern torpedo, historically called a locomotive torpedo, is a self-propelled projectile that (after being launched above or below the water surface) operates underwater and is designed to detonate on contact or in proximity to a target. ... U-boat is also a nickname for some diesel locomotives built by GE; see List of GE locomotives October 1939. ...

On 19 December 1944, all four chaplains were posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Service Cross.^[2] The Chaplain's Medal for Heroism was authorized in 1961 and posthumously presented by the President of the United States to the families of the chaplains. The chaplains were also honored with a stamp, issued in 1948 and by an act of the United States Congress, designating 3 February as "Four Chaplains Day." Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... December 19 is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... For other meanings see Purple Heart (disambiguation). ... The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is the second highest military decoration of the United States Army which is awarded for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. ... The Chaplains Medal for Heroism is a decoration of the United States military which was authorized by an act of the United States Congress on January 18, 1961. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... The presidential seal was first used by President Hayes in 1880 and last modified in 1959 by adding the 50th star for Hawaii. ... A stamp is a distinctive mark or impression made upon an object, for instance those made on a piece of paper and used to indicate the prepayment of a fee or tax. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... Type Bicameralism Houses Senate House of Representatives United States Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D, since January 4, 2007 Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D, since January 4, 2007 Members 535 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political groups (as of November 7, 2006 elections) Democratic Party Republican... February 3 is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

Three of the four chaplains were Boy Scouts or Boy Scout Leaders. Polish Boy Scouts fighting in the Warsaw Uprising Boy Scouts originally denoted the organization that developed and rapidly grew up during 1908 in the wake of the publication by Lord Robert Baden-Powell of his book Scouting for Boys. ...

Memorial

A chapel in their honor was dedicated on February 3, 1951 by President Harry S. Truman to honor these soldiers of different faiths. The chapel was originally at the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, but has moved to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 524 pixel Image in higher resolution (1466 Ã— 960 pixel, file size: 338 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Other versions Originally from en. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 524 pixel Image in higher resolution (1466 Ã— 960 pixel, file size: 338 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Other versions Originally from en. ... President Truman announces that Germany had surrendered (May 8 1945) Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884 â€“ December 26, 1972) was the thirty-third President of the United States (1945â€“1953); as Vice President, he succeeded to the office upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt. ... Founded in 1949, the Freedoms Foundation is located adjacent to the Valley Forge National Historic Park, and sits on ground that was once part of General Washingtons encampment. ... The Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, formerly Navy Yard, was the first naval shipyard of the United States. ...

A memorial created by sculptor Carlton W. Angell was dedicated to the Four Chaplains in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1954. Carlton W. Angell American sculptor, born in Belding, Michigan in 1887 and died in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1963. ... Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. ... Official language(s) None (English, de-facto) Capital Lansing Largest city Detroit Area Ranked 11th - Total 97,990 sq mi (253,793 kmÂ²) - Width 239 miles (385 km) - Length 491 miles (790 km) - % water 41. ... 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The chapel at the Pittsburgh International Airport was dedicated to the four chaplains in 1994. Pittsburgh International Airport (IATA: PIT, ICAO: KPIT, FAA LID: PIT) is an airport located in the Pittsburgh suburb of Findlay Township at the intersection of PA Route 60 (future I-376) and PA Route 576 (future I-576), with portions of the airport located in Moon Township. ...

The Four Chaplains Memorial Viaduct, spanning the Tuscarawas River in Massillon, Ohio, was built in 1949 and refurbished in 1993. It is part of the old Lincoln Highway. A memorial plaque can be found on the eastern end.

There is a memorial plaque at Belmont Park Racecourse in Elmont, New York. It is located behind the clubhouse section of the grandstand. It is bolted onto a rock on the walkway leading to the racing secretary's office. Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in the hamlet of Elmont, New York in Nassau County on Long Island (just outside of New York City). ...

In addition, there is also a musical composition entitled "The Light Eternal", written by James Swearingen in 1992, telling the story of that fateful day through music.

Contents

Who they were

Memorial

See also

References

External links