Four Chaplains Day is a time to honor and reflect on the courage, unity and sacrifice of four military chaplains from different religious backgrounds who came together during one of the deadliest moments for a U.S. convoy during World War II.
Recently, Keesler chaplains and religious affairs Airmen gathered together around an office table to reflect on the selfless actions of the heroes who came before them and share how the legacy of those four chaplains influenced their individual journeys.
On Feb. 3, 1943, the 368-feet ship USAT Dorchester, part of a convoy heading from New York to southern Greenland, was struck by a German U-Boat torpedo just after midnight. Amid the chaos, four chaplains helped guide men to lifeboats and distributed life jackets. As the ship began to sink and the supply of life jackets ran out, the chaplains gave up their own to those who had none, staying behind on the deck. Hand in hand, they prayed together as the ship went down.
One survivor later recalled hearing their prayers and words of encouragement above the cries and pleas of the men. Within just 20 minutes, the USAT Dorchester sank in the Labrador Sea claiming lives of four Army chaplains still on board: Lt. George Fox, a Methodist; Lt. Alexander Goode, a Jewish rabbi; Lt. Clark Poling, a Dutch Reformed minister; and Lt. John Washington, a Roman Catholic priest.
For U.S. Air Force Col. Dallas Little, 81st Training Wing wing chaplain, their legacy played a role in shaping him into the chaplain he is today. In the late 1990s, the Veterans of Foreign Wars were seeking a Methodist chaplain to portray Lt. George Fox at the Remembrance Day ceremony. Although Little was a civilian at the time, he volunteered for the role.
“This was the first time I had heard the story of the four chaplains,” said Little. “I was deeply moved by their story of self-sacrifice, their story of valor, and the extent to which they were willing to follow their ministerial vocations and to pay the ultimate price when called to. It got under my skin, and it wouldn't go away.”
The story of the four chaplains inspired Little and sparked his decision to pursue his own path in military chaplaincy. Wherever he gets stationed, he keeps photos of the four chaplains in his office as a reminder of their enduring legacy.
Little isn’t the only chaplain at Keesler AFB inspired by the heroic four chaplains. Lt. Col. Chad Montgomery, 81st TRW chaplain, became interested in their story and the sacrifices they made after reading letters they wrote to their loved ones before boarding the Dorchester.
“Their conviction and commitment spoke volumes to me," Montgomery said. "It's about being prepared to respond to challenges, to be the light when the situations are at the darkest, and that's what resonated with me."
Montgomery had the privilege of speaking with a USAT Dorchester survivor 15 years ago.
“To hear this gentleman in his late 80s or early 90s, at the time, still speak about what the chaplains had done for him is remarkable,” said Montgomery. “I suppose that's something that all of us would love to have; to have done something so special that this gentleman can recall it like that, seven or eight decades later.”
The four chaplains embodied the values of selfless service and unity, and their legacy continues to influence those who follow in their footsteps. To this day Keesler chaplains and religious affairs Airmen continue to reflect on their heroism.
| Date Taken: | 02.06.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 02.10.2025 14:47 |
| Story ID: | 490311 |
| Location: | BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI, US |
| Web Views: | 43 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Four Chaplains Day: Keesler chaplain corps reflects on legacy, by SrA Trenten Walters, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
