The Four Chaplains
The SS Dorchester almost made it to safety. On the evening of February 2, 1943, the troopship broke away from its convoy and headed into Narsarsuaq, Greenland, the destination for this trip. At about 1:00 a.m. a violent explosion lifted the ship. As the lights went out, nine hundred men scrambled for the upper decks and lifeboats. Those that made it topside found the ship listing to starboard and sinking fast. Men were frantically trying to break the ice off the tackle holding the boats. Only a few were launched. Those with life jackets started jumping clear of the ship. Many did not have one. Amid this confusion four chaplains from the embarked units manned the storage locker where extra life jackets were kept. They handed these out as fast as they could. When the supply was exhausted, each chaplain took off his own jacket and gave it to an astonished soldier.
In the midst of the chaos around them, time stood still for those who watched as four men on a sinking ship gave away their life jackets. Those who witnessed the act were momentarily stunned. Said one survivor, “It was the finest thing I’ve seen, or hope to see, this side of heaven.” The chaplains, now without life jackets, continued to minister to men, calming those who were crying in fear, praying with others, helping the men prepare themselves for what was about to happen. As the lifeboats rowed away from the ship, some of the men in the boats said they could see the chaplains standing on deck, arms linked together and heads bowed, when the Dorchester finally succumbed.96
The four chaplains were George Fox (Methodist), Clark Poling (Dutch Reformed), Alex Goode (Jewish), and John Washington (Catholic). They were each awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously for their heroism. Together they have left us one of the finest examples of Christian service ever recorded.
Taking the very nature of a servant… He humbled himself and became obedient to death even death on a cross!
—Philippians 2:78