Four Chaplains Day, observed on February 3rd each year, honors the four U.S. Army chaplains who sacrificed their lives to save others during World War II. The chaplains came from different faiths and backgrounds, exemplifying unity and selflessness.
The four chaplains were:
- George L. Fox (Methodist):
- Alexander D. Goode (Jewish):
- Clark V. Poling (Dutch Reformed):
- John P. Washington (Roman Catholic):
On February 3, 1943, the U.S. Army transport ship SS Dorchester was torpedoed by a German submarine in the North Atlantic. As the ship began to sink, the four chaplains helped distribute life jackets and assisted soldiers in abandoning the ship. When the supply of life jackets ran out, the chaplains gave their own life jackets to other soldiers, choosing to go down with the ship as it sank.
Four Chaplains Day serves as a reminder of their heroic actions and the principles of unity and self-sacrifice. The story of the Four Chaplains is often cited as a symbol of interfaith cooperation and bravery. The U.S. Congress established February 3rd as "Four Chaplains Day" in 1988
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