Four Chaplains Day

Four Chaplains Day, observed annually on February 3, honors the supreme sacrifice of four U.S. Army chaplains—George L. Fox, Alexander D. Goode, Clark V. Poling, and John P. Washington—who gave their life jackets to soldiers and went down with the torpedoed USAT Dorchester on Feb. 3, 1943, embodying selfless service and interfaith unity. 
The Four Chaplains
The four chaplains represented three different faiths and served together, offering a powerful example of brotherhood during World War II: 

• Lt. George L. Fox: Methodist minister.
• Lt. Alexander D. Goode: Rabbi.
• Lt. Clark V. Poling: Dutch Reformed minister.
• Lt. John P. Washington: Roman Catholic priest. 

The Story of the USAT Dorchester
On January 29, 1943, the Dorchester departed New York for Greenland with over 900 soldiers, merchant seamen, and civilian workers. Early on February 3, 1943, a German submarine torpedoed the ship off the coast of Newfoundland. Amidst the chaos, the four chaplains maintained calm, guided soldiers to safety, and distributed life jackets. When life jackets ran out, the chaplains gave their own to others. Survivors reported seeing the chaplains on the deck, arm-in-arm, praying together as the ship sank in less than 20 minutes, killing 672 men.