Stories of some events which reflect honor, courage and compassion are so important they should be told over and over, especially now when it seems so many people do not know or appreciate American history. An example is the story of the Four Immortal Chaplains.
On September 3, 1943, the troop ship Dorchester was in the North Atlantic with more than 900 soldiers and sailors on board, headed for battle action. Many were very young. Also on board were four chaplains -- Father John Washington, Roman Catholic; the Rev. Clark Poling, Dutch Reformed; Rabbi Alexander Goode, Jewish, and the Rev. George Fox, Methodist.
When the ship was about 100 miles off the coast of Greenland, it was struck by a German tornado and forced to sink. On board it was chaotic and the chaplains did what chaplains do -- they calmed and comforted the troops. More than 600 drowned but 250 were rescued and they told how the chaplains gave their life jackets to others and sank under the water, going down with their arms around each other.
Four men of religious differences but all serving the same God. Let us remember them for their actions, some 62 years ago.
On September 3, 1943, the troop ship Dorchester was in the North Atlantic with more than 900 soldiers and sailors on board, headed for battle action. Many were very young. Also on board were four chaplains -- Father John Washington, Roman Catholic; the Rev. Clark Poling, Dutch Reformed; Rabbi Alexander Goode, Jewish, and the Rev. George Fox, Methodist.
When the ship was about 100 miles off the coast of Greenland, it was struck by a German tornado and forced to sink. On board it was chaotic and the chaplains did what chaplains do -- they calmed and comforted the troops. More than 600 drowned but 250 were rescued and they told how the chaplains gave their life jackets to others and sank under the water, going down with their arms around each other.
Four men of religious differences but all serving the same God. Let us remember them for their actions, some 62 years ago.
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