Four Chaplains.Docx

We pray, sing and pause today, to recall and to honor the 1,352 Harvard men and women who have died in the uniform of our country. The names of 1,113 - from World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam - are engraved on the walls of this sacred place. I would like to reflect, however, on the names of four others, who are yet to be remembered here. Together, while at Harvard Divinity School and in their untimely death, they became known as The Four Chaplains. Reverend George Fox was a Methodist minister from Vermont and, at age 42 the oldest of the four. Father John Washington was a Catholic priest from New Jersey. Rabbi Alexander Goode was from Pennsylvania. Reverend Clark Poling was a Dutch Reformed Church minister from New York and, at age 30 the youngest of the four. In the months following Pearl Harbor, each of these young clergy men enlisted in the Army, and they ultimately “found each other” in November 1942, while attending the Army Chaplain School here, at the Harvard Divinity School. One of Clark Poling’s cousins later said “They were all very sociable guys, who seemed to have initiated interfaith activities even before the war. They hit it off well at Chaplain’s school. Sharing their faith was not just a first time deal for them. They were really close, and had prayed together a number of times before that final crisis.” Following 6 weeks of training at Harvard, they next found themselves together aboard the converted Army Transport ship The Dorchester, as it departed New York on January 23rd 1943. There were 900 young soldiers aboard, packed head to toe below deck. Midst days of boredom and misery, the men were in need of a strong shoulder to lean on, and a friendly voice to encourage them. The Four Chaplains moved among them, providing ministry and comfort, regardless of religious differences. At 12:55 AM on the morning of February 3rd 1943, while The Dorchester was 100 miles from Greenland, its small convoy was attacked, and the ship was struck dead on by two torpedoes fired from the German U boat -223. The ship’s power was knocked out, and water rushed through the gaping holes in the starboard side of Dorchester’s hull. The ship tilted forward, as the frightened and wounded soldiers desperately groped in the dark for the exit to the ship’s deck. The strength, calm and organization of the Four Chaplains helped in getting many of the men out of the hold, and onto the slanting deck of the ship. There were frigid arctic winds, and waves breaking over the rails. The Chaplains found storage lockers and handed out life preservers to the men who had lost theirs below, all while offering prayer, song and encouragement. When the lockers were empty, and the lifejackets were gone, The Four Chaplains removed their own lifejackets and put them on men still in line. One survivor, John Ladd, later said “It was the finest thing I have ever seen or hope to see this side of heaven. Another survivor, William Bednar, who found himself floating in oil soaked water surrounded by debris, recalled that “I could hear the chaplains preaching courage. Their voices were the only thing that kept me going.” Other survivors, fortunate enough to be in lifeboats also reported hearing the strong voices of the chaplains, praying, singing and declaring faith in Hebrew, Latin and English. They witnessed the Dorchester, as it slid into the dark sea with the Four Chaplains braced against the railing, arms linked together, and leaning into each other in support. Years later, the senior enlisted survivor of the sinking of the Dorchester recalled “These men were always together. They carried their faith together. Remember, this was 1943. Protestants didn’t talk to Catholics back then, let alone either of them talk to a Jew. And yet here they were, always together, and they loved each other. The men said it didn’t matter which service they went to, since the Four Chaplains always made them feel welcome and cared for. They were remarkable for 1943, way ahead of their time”. Carl Sandburg once said that “Valor is a gift. Those who have it never know for sure whether they have it until the test comes.” Well, in the early morning of February 3rd 1943, while 100 miles to sea, the Four Chaplains: Lt. George Fox, Methodist; Lt. Alexander Goode, Jewish; Lt. John Washington, Roman Catholic; and Lt. Clark Poling, Dutch Reformed; all passed life’s ultimate test. .

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