• Home
  • Opinion
  • Quizzes
  • Redistricting
  • Sections
  • About Us
  • Voting
  • Events
  • Civic Ed
  • Campaign Finance
  • Directory
  • Election Dissection
  • Fact Check
  • Glossary
  • Independent Voter News
  • News
  • Analysis
  • Subscriptions
  • Log in
Leveraging Our Differences
  • news & opinion
    • Big Picture
      • Civic Ed
      • Ethics
      • Leadership
      • Leveraging big ideas
      • Media
    • Business & Democracy
      • Corporate Responsibility
      • Impact Investment
      • Innovation & Incubation
      • Small Businesses
      • Stakeholder Capitalism
    • Elections
      • Campaign Finance
      • Independent Voter News
      • Redistricting
      • Voting
    • Government
      • Balance of Power
      • Budgeting
      • Congress
      • Judicial
      • Local
      • State
      • White House
    • Justice
      • Accountability
      • Anti-corruption
      • Budget equity
    • Columns
      • Beyond Right and Left
      • Civic Soul
      • Congress at a Crossroads
      • Cross-Partisan Visions
      • Democracy Pie
      • Our Freedom
  • Pop Culture
      • American Heroes
      • Ask Joe
      • Celebrity News
      • Comedy
      • Dance, Theatre & Film
      • Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging
      • Faithful & Mindful Living
      • Music, Poetry & Arts
      • Sports
      • Technology
      • Your Take
      • American Heroes
      • Ask Joe
      • Celebrity News
      • Comedy
      • Dance, Theatre & Film
      • Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging
      • Faithful & Mindful Living
      • Music, Poetry & Arts
      • Sports
      • Technology
      • Your Take
  • events
  • About
      • Mission
      • Advisory Board
      • Staff
      • Contact Us
Sign Up
  1. Home>
  2. four chaplains>

Remembering the four chaplains eighty years later

Rabbi Charles Savenor
February 03, 2023
Remembering the four chaplains eighty years later
MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images

Rabbi Charles E. Savenor is the Executive Director of Civic Spirit, a national organization that provides training in civic education in Jewish, Catholic, Christian, and Islamic day schools.

With more American troops desperately needed to fight in Europe during World War II, the SS Dorchester left New York on January 23, 1943. Formerly a civilian ship, the Dorchester - like the 900 men onboard - was recruited for military service.


During the early morning hours of February 3rd, the German submarine U-223 fired on the Dorchester off Newfoundland. Exploding in the boiler room, this missile cut off the electricity and released thick clouds of gas and steam all over the ship. The immediate aftermath of the damage disoriented those onboard and paralyzed many with fear, thereby impeding their ability to head to the lifeboats. In fact, only two of the fourteen lifeboats were successfully utilized as soldiers and crew were directed to abandon ship. Many soldiers jumped into the freezing water and waited for rescue.

Along with the soldiers on the Dorchester were four military chaplains - a Catholic, a Jew, and two Protestants. Each embraced different faiths, yet they were united in their desire to serve their country. “The Four Chaplains” - George L. Fox, John P. Washington, Alexander D. Goode, and Clarke V. Poling – were all inspired by the attack at Pearl Harbor to enlist.

Sign up for The Fulcrum newsletter

When the ship was attacked, these chaplains worked together to assuage the fears of those onboard and guide the men to safety, primarily to the lifeboats. In the smoky chaos aboard the Dorchester, countless men did not have their life jackets, forgetting them below deck. To address this obstacle, these clergymen found more and distributed them swiftly. When this supply of life jackets ran out, the four chaplains did not hesitate to take off theirs and give them away. We can only imagine that they grasped the implication of their actions.

As the Dorchester sank into the ocean, soldiers watched from afar as the four chaplains sat shoulder to shoulder and recited prayers. These four men could have made their way to safety, but chose to go down with the ship and the souls whom they pledged to protect, comfort, and inspire.

Nearly 700 people died in this deadly attack, regarded as one of the worst at-sea tragedies during the war. Each life taken - then and now - is a tragedy. And yet, the story of the four chaplains has been lifted up decade after decade because of their selfless bravery and unflinching commitment to God, country, and humanity.

The actions and attitude of the four chaplains reflect the highest values of civic education. The field of civics unfortunately took a back seat in American schools for the past few decades, which may help us understand why the story of the SS Dorchester resonates so deeply.

At a moment of deep division and polarization in America, Chaplains Fox, Washington, Goode, and Poling are more than fallen heroes in battle. Their selfless embrace of our shared civic responsibilities reminds us of the powerful potential within ourselves as stewards of our democracy.

Eighty years later, the four chaplains continue to inspire. Will we heed their call?

From Your Site Articles
  • Changing pastimes - The Fulcrum ›
Related Articles Around the Web
  • Four Chaplains - Wikipedia ›
  • The Four Chaplains | The American Legion ›
four chaplains

Join an Upcoming Event

Introduction to Living Room Conversations

Living Room Conversations
Mar 23, 2023 at 3:00 pm PDT
Read More

MWEG 6th Annual Spring Conference

Mormon Women for Ethical Government
Mar 25, 2023 at 9:00 am MDT
Read More

Building Bridges in the Human Family

New Hampshire Listens
Apr 16, 2023 at 4:00 pm EDT
Read More

Conversations from Your Spiritual Core

The Guibord Center
Apr 17, 2023 at 4:00 pm PDT
Read More

PEACE in the Workplace and in Life

Peace Harmony Joy Alliance
Apr 18, 2023 at 1:00 pm EDT
Read More

Dialogue Across Difference: Targeted Violence

Urban Rural Action
Apr 18, 2023 at 2:00 pm CDT
Read More
View All Events

Want to write
for The Fulcrum?

If you have something to say about ways to protect or repair our American democracy, we want to hear from you.

Submit
Get some Leverage Sign up for The Fulcrum Newsletter
Follow
Contributors

Reform in 2023: Leadership worth celebrating

Layla Zaidane

Two technology balancing acts

Dave Anderson

Reform in 2023: It’s time for the civil rights community to embrace independent voters

Jeremy Gruber

Congress’ fix to presidential votes lights the way for broader election reform

Kevin Johnson

Democrats and Republicans want the status quo, but we need to move Forward

Christine Todd Whitman

Reform in 2023: Building a beacon of hope in Boston

Henry Santana
Jerren Chang
latest News

Taking flight into difficult but meaningful conversations

Debilyn Molineaux
13h

The power of libraries to connect communities

Annie Caplan
Cristy Moran
13h

Podcast: Break out of your bubble: Talk to a stranger

Our Staff
13h

Podcast: Inequitable ability: Electoral and civic challenges faced by those with disabilities

Our Staff
21 March

Is reform the way out of extremism?

Mindy Finn
21 March

Changing pastimes

Rabbi Charles Savenor
21 March
Videos

Video: The hidden stories in the U.S. Census

Our Staff

Video: We asked conservatives at CPAC what woke means

Our Staff

Video: DeSantis, 18 states to push back against Biden ESG agenda

Our Staff

Video: A conversation with Tiahna Pantovich

Our Staff

Video: What would happen if Trump was a third-party candidate in 2024?

Our Staff

Video: How the Federal Reserve is the shadow branch of the government

Our Staff
Podcasts

Podcast: Break out of your bubble: Talk to a stranger

Our Staff
13h

Podcast: Inequitable ability: Electoral and civic challenges faced by those with disabilities

Our Staff
21 March

Podcast: A tricky dance

Our Staff
14 March

Podcast: Kevin, Tucker and wokism, oh my!

Debilyn Molineaux
David Riordan
13 March
Recommended
Taking flight into difficult but meaningful conversations

Taking flight into difficult but meaningful conversations

Big Picture
The power of libraries to connect communities

The power of libraries to connect communities

Big Picture
Podcast: Break out of your bubble: Talk to a stranger

Podcast: Break out of your bubble: Talk to a stranger

Podcasts
Podcast: Inequitable ability: Electoral and civic challenges faced by those with disabilities

Podcast: Inequitable ability: Electoral and civic challenges faced by those with disabilities

Podcasts
Is reform the way out of extremism?

Is reform the way out of extremism?

Threats to democracy
Changing pastimes

Changing pastimes

Civic Ed