02/07/2026
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Today is Four Chaplains Day, a time to remember an extraordinary act of faith, courage, and selflessness. On February 3, 1943, during World War II, the U.S.S. Dorchester, an Army transport ship traveling in Convoy SG 19, was torpedoed by a German U boat in the North Atlantic, approximately 150 miles from Greenland. Of the 904 men aboard, 605 were lost, including four U.S. Army chaplains.
As the ship began to sink, the chaplains moved calmly among the soldiers, tending the wounded, comforting the frightened, and guiding men toward safety. When the supply of life jackets was exhausted, the chaplains removed their own and gave them to four young soldiers. Survivors later recalled seeing the four chaplains standing together on deck, arms linked, praying as one as the Dorchester slipped beneath the waves.
The four chaplains were Lt. George L. Fox, a Methodist minister; Lt. Alexander David Goode, a Jewish rabbi; Lt. Clark V. Poling, a Dutch Reformed minister; and Lt. Father John P. Washington, a Catholic priest. Three of the four chaplains had strong ties to Scouting. Goode founded and led a troop in York, Pennsylvania. He created Troop 37 in 1941 that was notable for its multifaith membership and for earning multiple religious emblems across faith traditions. Poling and Washington both served in leadership roles in Scouting as adults, working with units and supporting Scouting activities in their communities.
Their actions became an enduring example of unity beyond differences, service before self, and moral leadership. In 1961, the U.S. Congress authorized a special Medal of Honor to be presented to their families, recognizing their extraordinary valor. Their legacy is honored through Four Chaplains Memorial Services held across the United States and at the Chapel of the Four Chaplains in Valley Forge.
