HONORING HEROES and remembering those who have come before us and fought for our freedoms is an essential part of what makes one American. “Four Chaplains Sunday” is remembered each year by the American Legion during the month of February. The day honors reformed Chaplain Clark Poling, Methodist Chaplain George Fox, Jewish Chaplain Alexander Goode, and Catholic Chaplain John Washington and their heroic actions on Feb. 3, 1943.

During World War II, 79 years ago, a torpedo slammed into the side of the transport SS Dorchester, which caused the ship to start to sink.The Dorchester was part of a convoy heading for Greenland, and was off Newfoundland when it was struck.

As the ship started going down, she lost power and the more than 900 soldiers and sailors on board were left to try to make it to the lifeboats in the dark.

Through the chaos, four men worked to calm down the panicking men and help them escape the doomed ship. The four aforementioned chaplains directed men to the lifeboats, helped them up out of the depths of the ship, and handed out lifejackets.

When the stores of lifejackets ran out, each of the four chaplains removed his own, and handed them to other soldiers trying to escape the ship. All four chaplains chose to remain behind to help the stragglers.

As Dorchester slipped beneath the waves, the four chaplains were seen praying together for the safety of the survivors, and were heard singing hymns.

Only 230 survivors were pulled from the frigid waters. As the news of the sinking of the Dorchester began to spread, so also did the story of chaplains’ sacrifice. Each chaplain was awarded posthumously the Distinguished Service Cross and the Purple Heart.