JS Tip 565: Informal Leaders III

Monday is February 3rd. 

On some calendars, you’ll find it designated as “The Four Chaplains’ Day.”

Wait a minute.

Who were “The Four Chaplains”? And why should we remember them?

The four chaplains were four World War II Army chaplains (military ministers) who gave their lives to save others as the troop ship Dorchester went down on February 3, 1943, in the North Atlantic. 

They were Father John Washington, Rabbi Alexander Goode, Reverend George Fox, and Reverend Clark Poling. They saw a need, stepped forward, and resolved the need at the cost of their lives. 

At 12:55 a.m. on that February morning, the Dorchester took a German torpedo on the starboard side. The ship immediately began to flood and go down.  

In the confusion and darkness, the chaplains helped their fellow soldiers board the lifeboats and gave their own life jackets to others when the supply ran out. 

The chaplains joined arms, said prayers, and sang hymns as they went down with the ship. 

Survivors heard the chaplains praying, one in Latin, one in Hebrew, two in English, as the ship went down.

Informal leadership. No one asked for their sacrifice. They saw a need, stepped forward, and resolved the need. 

We love this story.