Our Diocesan Military Missioner, Fr. Dale Plummer shares with us the heroic story of Four Chaplains. Four Chaplains Day takes place on Feb. 3rd. Interested in military ministry? Contact Fr. Dale at dplummer@epiok.org.
Our Diocesan Military Missioner, Fr. Dale Plummer shares with us the heroic story of Four Chaplains. Four Chaplains Day takes place on Feb. 3rd. Interested in military ministry? Contact Fr. Dale at dplummer@epiok.org.
On February 3, 2022, you are invited to take a moment of silent remembrance of Four Chaplains serving on board the SS Dorchester. Chaplains George Lansing Fox (Methodist), Alexander David Goode (Jewish), Clark Vandersall Polling (Dutch Reformed), and John Patrick Washington (Roman Catholic).
The SS Dorchester left New York on January 23, 1943, enroute to Greenland carrying approximately 900 soldiers. The morning of February 3, 1943, the ship was torpedoed by the German submarine U-223 in the North Atlantic. These four chaplains assisted soldiers on to lifeboats and gave up their own life preservers to save others. It is reported these four chaplains ‘joined arms, said prayers, and sang hymns as they went down with the ship’, giving their lives for others. Each was awarded the Purple Heart, Distinguished Service Cross, and Special Medal for Heroism. Grant that their martyrdom may recall to us Christ’s victory over death and be an occasion for us to renew our trust in God’s love.