Posted on 02/03/2011 1:35:24 PM PST by DakotaRed
“Four Chaplains Day” is to be observed annually on February 3 in America by the unanimous resolution of the U.S. Congress in 1988. It is a day to remember February 3, 1943, one of the most remarkable and inspiring acts of heroism in the history of warfare took place in World War II. It is a day to honor the heroism of the Four Chaplains, who selflessly gave their lives “that others may live.”
However, although veterans in The American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and other veterans organizations, will hold special observances on Four Chaplains Day, most American media, most American schools, and, therefore, most Americans, will not observe it. Indeed, most Americans, including children who will not be taught about in their schools, will not even know that there is a National Four Chaplains day, or why. This is true even though, as a former soldier who owed his life to them has said: “[T]heir heroism is beyond belief. That is one of the reasons why we must tell the world what these people did.”
On February 3, 1943, the Dorchester, a converted luxury cruise ship, was transporting Army troops to Greenland, escorted by three Coast Guard Cutters and accompanied by two slow moving freighters.
On board were some 900 troops, and four chaplains, of diverse religions and backgrounds, but of a common faith and commitment to serve God, country, and all the troops, regardless of their religious beliefs, or non-belief. The four Chaplains are:
Rev. George Fox (Methodist); Father John Washington (Roman Catholic); Jewish Rabbi Alexander Goode; and Rev. Clark Poling (Dutch Reformed).
At approximately 12:55 a.m... the Dorchester was hit by a torpedo fired by German U-boat 233 in an area so infested with German submarines it was known as “Torpedo Junction.”
(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...
It’s not a story very often retold.
The heroism of these four brave men is captured in a stained glass window in the National Cathedral in Washington, DC.
The Catholic priest served at my parish in NJ; we have an annual Mass for him.
That is wonderful to hear that your parish still honors that brave and selfless priest
He was one of their parish priests; how could they do otherwise? They have a large bronze plaque on the wall with his likeness on it; the VFW, Knights of Columbus, etc. have a big ceremony for the Mass. The street alongside the Church is Washington Avenue, though I don’t know if the name pre-dates his death. I have a block of four of the US stamps that were issued (I believe in 1948) to commemorate the “immortal Chaplains”; Rev. Washington is the one with the glasses. The Dorchester is sinking below their pictures on the stamp.
Whenever people would complain about homosexual priests, I couldn’t (and wouldn’t) defend them; I simply tell them about Father Washington (he’s fairly well-known in town) and remind them that he was a priest they could be proud of. He wore glasses because an accident with a BB gun damaged one of his eyes; that is so “Kearny Irish” (my username - though he grew up across the river in Newark and was assigned to Kearny later as a priest).
That’s right Kearny’’. At the back wall of St. Stephens Church(my old parish) is a plague dedicated to the Four Chaplins. Washington Ave. in Kearny is named after him.
Happy New Year to you!
I’m glad men like Rev. Washington never had to see how low some people brought the reputation of our clergy; he died with his boots on.
Happy New Year to you too Kearny. Rev. Washington should be made a saint.
Thanks.
It would take quite a bit to canonize him (including at least one miracle); martyrs get the fast track, while he was just a really good guy...
The miracle would be that he and those other three chaplains gave their lives so hundreds of others could live.
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