This Monday, February 3, marks the 82nd anniversary of the sinking of the United States Army Transport (USAT) Dorchester at the height of World War II.  Four Chaplains Day commemorates numerous legendary acts of heroism by four U.S. Army Chaplains who found themselves together onboard, all representing different faiths but united in purpose. In all likelihood but still not entirely certain, the feats of the four Chaplains consumed little more than an hour aboard the ship.

Four Chaplains Day was established by Congress in 1988 to honor the men for their unfathomable devotion to those they served as they fitted them with rescue gear and gave away their own, giving of their lives that as many others as possible might survive. On Feb. 3, 1943, off the coast of Newfoundland, the USAT Dorchester was sunk by a German submarine, U-223. The Dorchester had left New York City less than two weeks earlier as part of a three-ship convoy bound for Greenland.

Some 900 men were onboard, including four relatively new Army chaplains. Alexander Goode was Jewish, Clark Poling was Baptist, George Fox was Methodist, and John Washington was Catholic. Today, there are numerous honors dedicated to the four Chaplains.

Despite the drama behind perhaps the worst sea disaster of World War II, and the breadth and depth of displayed heroism, Four Chaplains Day still seems to take a backseat to other World War II commemorative recognitions and even to Ground Hog Day the previous day. February 3 is nevertheless a sacred day of reflection for all military chaplains who typically work long hours ministering and looking for opportunities to connect with service members of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard.

Learn more about that fateful day and the now documented acts that resulted, courtesy of The Army Historical Foundation.