Four Chaplains service Sunday

American Legion Post 341 is hosting the annual Four Chaplains service at 4 p.m. Sunday.

The nondenominational service is open to the public, and doors open at 3:30 p.m. at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 2900 9th Ave. S.

The service honors four chaplains who were killed Feb. 3, 1943, during World War II.

They were on a luxury coastal liner that had been converted into an Army transport ship, the USS Dorchester. The ship was at capacity, carrying 902 troops, merchant seamen and civilians to a U.S. base in Greenland and was one of three ships in the convoy being escorted by Coast Guard cutters.

Uncle�s story serves as example for senator

Around 1 a.m., the ship fell victim to what was known as “torpedo alley” and was struck by a German U-boat.

Most of the passengers were below deck and as the ship rapidly took on water, panic led to chaos.

But four chaplains of different faiths helped steady those on board. Though men were jumping into the icy water, the chaplains stayed calm and began passing out life jackets, eventually giving up their own.

The four Army chaplains were Lt. George Fox, a Methodist; Lt. Alexander Goode, a Jewish rabbi; Lt. John Washington, a Roman Catholic priest; and Lt. Clark Poling, a Dutch Reformed minister.

Of the 902 men aboard, 230 survived.

The Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart were awarded posthumously but Congress wished to confer the Medal of Honor. They were unable to because of the stringent requirements that required heroism performed under fire. So a posthumous special medal for heroism, The Four Chaplains’ Medal, was authorized by Congress and awarded by the president Jan. 18, 1961. It’s the only such medal ever awarded.

For more information, contact Kim Kay at 701-260-2833.