CLARKSVILLE, TN – On February 3, 1943, an enemy torpedo struck the Army transport Dorchester as it carried 902 officers and enlisted men, Navy armed guard, merchant seamen and civilian workers in the North Atlantic. The Coast Guard cutter escorts Comanche and Escanaba rescued 230 men. As Dorchester took on water, four Army chaplains – Lt. George L. Fox (Methodist), Lt. Alexander D. Goode (Jewish), Lt. John P. Washington (Roman Catholic), and Lt. Clark V. Poling (Dutch reformed) – calmed frightened soldiers, aided the wounded and guided the disoriented toward safety.

On deck, they began distributing life jackets. When there were no more available, the chaplains removed their life jackets and gave them to four young men. “It was the finest thing I have seen or hope to see this side of heaven,” said John Ladd, a survivor. As the ship went down, men in rafts saw the four chaplains, arms linked and braced against the slanting deck, singing hymns and praying.

How We Remember Them Today

Every year, American Legion Posts nationwide, including local American Legion CSM Gary W. Crisp Post 289, commemorate the selfless acts of the Four Chaplains on or about February 3, designated Four Chaplains Day by Congress in 1948. Through interfaith services, memorial ceremonies and other solemn events, members of the American Legion Family and communities honor the chaplains and the 668 other men who died when Dorchester sank.

Clarksville: The local Four Chaplains Day observance will take place February 3, 10 a.m., at Sykes Funeral Home, 424 Franklin St, Clarksville, TN 37040. For information, email Ernest A. Schmidt, the American Legion CSM Gary W. Crisp Post 289, 2nd Vice Commander at Eaglewarr7@yahoo.com or call (931) 624-8564, Leave a message he will call back. The public is invited but please RSVP as we are limited on seating.

Any veteran interested in joining Post 289 here in Clarksville, meetings are held at the library at 6pm every 3rd Tuesday of the month. All are welcome to join. We also have a Ham Radio Club KC4TAL as well as Legion Motorcycle riders. Sons of veterans have a place at Post 289, too. Don’t forget, we also have Unit 289 American Legion Auxiliary for spouses who want to help out too. You can also sign up on our web site: ALTNPost289.Org.