Four Chaplains Services Mark February Calendar
Four Chaplains Day...
Highlights The American Legion observance of Religious Emphasis Week.
In California, the Department's "official" observance is in San Francisco, but there are many others held by Posts, Districts and in large and small cities as well...
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The annual Four Chaplains Service commemorates one of the most selfless, heroic and dedicated events of World War II. At 12:55 a.m. on February 3, 1943, as the troop transport. Dorchester steamed toward Europe on a black night, a German submarine’s torpedoes found their mark, sending the ship to the bottom quickly.
Aboard ship, hundreds of soldiers and sailors were thrown into panic as the ship buckled and listed. Life jackets ran out before all could get one, and some lifeboats were never launched because the ship listed badly. The cold ocean promised death to those who might jump without a jacket, and even to some who did have them.
Four chaplains responded to the panic and handed out life jackets until they ran out. Then each took off his own and put them on four other men. As the ship slid beneath the waves, the chaplains were seen arm in arm in prayer – a Catholic, Jew, Methodist and a member of the Dutch Reformed Church. The waves washed over them and they were not seen again.
Remembered annually are Chaplain John B. Washington, a Catholic priest, Rabbi Alexander D. Goode; Methodist minister George L. Fox; and Dutch Reformed Church minister Clark V. Poling.
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Four Chaplains Services throughout California
The San Francisco-Bay Area observance will mark its 44th anniversary
St. Mary's Cathedral, 1111 Gough St at Geary St., San Francisco
Saturday, February 7, 2009 - 2:00 pm
More Services to be announced
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