[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 24, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E396]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            THE 4 CHAPLAINS

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 24, 2015

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, anywhere there is someone in the 
military, there will be chaplains. They are men of God, doing God's 
work. Bringing faith in a time of misery, pain and sorrow, chaplains 
serve their spiritual duty on the battlefields alongside our servicemen 
and women. Chaplains help battle demons in every sense of the word. 
While their efforts are spiritual in nature, their courage deserves to 
be celebrated.
  The Chaplain Corps was created in 1775 by the Continental Congress to 
be an essential part of the Army while ensuring American soldiers would 
have spiritual guidance available anytime. The corps is made up of both 
ordained clergy who are commissioned officers and enlisted soldiers who 
serve as chaplain assistants and they can be assigned anywhere they are 
needed.
  One of the most famous stories about these brave faith warriors is 
the tale of the Four Chaplains. It was February 3, 1943. The U.S. Army 
Transport Dorchester made up a three ship convoy that was moving from 
Newfoundland to an American base in Greenland. The ship was at full 
capacity, carrying 902 servicemen, merchant seamen and civilian 
workers.
  Only 150 miles from its destination, the Dorchester became a quick 
target for a German submarine. The hit was detrimental.
  It was 12:55 a.m., when 902 lives were completely turned upside down. 
The Dorchester began rapidly taking on water. It was sinking. The 
ship's captain, Hans J. Danielsen, gave orders to abandon the ship.
  The fate off the ship however was not much better; the icy waters 
gave many of the men hypothermia, even killing some of them. All 
alternatives were bleak.
  The torpedo hit killed and wounded many of the men. Those who were 
still alive were desperately trying to get aboard lifeboats and rafts 
and struggling to find life preservers. As mass chaos erupted aboard, 
four men remained calm and brave. Aboard the ship were four Army 
chaplains: 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.
  Witnessing the situation in front of them, the chaplains took charge. 
They began quickly handing out lifejackets, prayers and words of 
encouragement. Rabbi Goode even gave his own gloves to a soldier. When 
there were no more lifejackets, the chaplains simply removed their own 
and handed them out, no questions asked.
  In a mere 20 minutes, the ship slipped below the surface of the sea, 
drifting to its final resting place in the Atlantic. 672 men died. Only 
230 survived. Among the casualties were the four selfless chaplains. 
They were an earthly liaison and a light of peace during a time of 
complete turmoil. It was a German death wish, but death was defeated by 
faith, the divine won that day at sea.
  The Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart were awarded 
posthumously as well as a posthumous Special Medal of Heroism; The Four 
Chaplains' Medal was approved by Congress and awarded by the President 
in 1961.
  They were from different denominations and even religions, but bound 
together by a God's love and their faith in his eternal promise. The 
chaplains lived by a uniting example that transcends religions, 
countries and generations: laying down their lives for others, there is 
no greater love.
  The epitome of selflessness, they fought a silent battle. While in a 
literal sense they lost, they gained all in the eyes of their creator.
  And that's just the way it is.

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