Four names you should know
Rev. George L. Fox, Methodist
Rabbi Alexander D. Goode, Jewish
Rev. John P. Washington, Cathoiic
Rev. Clark V. Poling, Reformed Church of America
the location was aboard a ship, the US Army Tranport Dorchester
Fox was from Lewistown PA
Goode was from Brooklyn NY
Poling was from Columbus OH
Washington was from Newark NJ
All were first Lieutenants and chaplains in the US Army
They had met while preparing for their roles in the European theater at Harvard University
And on this day, 70 years ago in 1943, they died arm in arm as their ship, having been torpedoed, sank. They prayed together, they sang together.
There were not enough life jackets for all on board.
Each of the chaplains gave up his life jacket to someone else,
They helped as many as they could into the lifeboats.
Without hesitation they gave their lives so others might live.
We often wonder about the role of chaplains in war. Some criticize, as during Vietnam singer Eric Burden
Rabbi Alexander D. Goode, Jewish
Rev. John P. Washington, Cathoiic
Rev. Clark V. Poling, Reformed Church of America
the location was aboard a ship, the US Army Tranport Dorchester
Fox was from Lewistown PA
Goode was from Brooklyn NY
Poling was from Columbus OH
Washington was from Newark NJ
All were first Lieutenants and chaplains in the US Army
They had met while preparing for their roles in the European theater at Harvard University
And on this day, 70 years ago in 1943, they died arm in arm as their ship, having been torpedoed, sank. They prayed together, they sang together.
There were not enough life jackets for all on board.
Each of the chaplains gave up his life jacket to someone else,
They helped as many as they could into the lifeboats.
Without hesitation they gave their lives so others might live.
We often wonder about the role of chaplains in war. Some criticize, as during Vietnam singer Eric Burden