IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 86 

Expressing support for the designation of Four Immortal Chaplains Day 

in remembrance of the 4 men who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the 

name of compassion for those of different races and faiths. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 26, 2009 

Mr. FILNER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Armed Services 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of Four Immortal 

Chaplains Day in remembrance of the 4 men who paid 

the ultimate sacrifice in the name of compassion for 

those of different races and faiths. 

Whereas on February 3, 1943, The Army Transport Service 

troopship Dorchester was torpedoed in the North Atlantic 

Ocean by a German submarine, an event that resulted in 

the loss of nearly 700 lives and for which witnesses have 

recounted in the Congressional Record the heroism of 4 

chaplains of different faiths: Lieutenant George L. Fox, 

Methodist; Lieutenant Alexander D. Goode, Jewish; Lieutenant John P. Washington, Catholic; and Lieutenant 

Clark V. Poling, Dutch Reformed; 


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•HRES 86 IH 

Whereas witnesses verified that during the approximate 18 

minutes the ship was sinking after being torpedoed off 

the coast of Greenland, the 4 chaplains went from soldier 

to soldier calming fears, distributing life jackets, and 

guiding men to safety; 

Whereas when there were no more life jackets, the 4 chaplains removed their own life jackets and gave them to 

others; 

Whereas the 4 chaplains were last seen arm-in-arm in prayer 

on the hull of the ship; 

Whereas many of the 230 men who survived owed their lives 

to these 4 chaplains, and witnesses among them recounted the unique interreligious spirit and love for their 

fellow man that was later illustrated in a popular postage 

stamp issued by the United States in 1948, called ‘‘These 

Immortal Chaplains—Interfaith in Action’’; 

Whereas Congress passed House Concurrent Resolution 90 in 

1957 to honor these 4 chaplains and the men who died 

with them, and President Harry Truman and President 

Dwight D. Eisenhower issued similar proclamations calling for national recognition and participation in memorial 

services throughout the country that have been observed 

annually by the American Legion on the first Sunday of 

February; 

Whereas Congress created a special medal for valor given to 

the 4 chaplains in 1960; 

Whereas the Senate passed a unanimous resolution on the 

first day of the 2d Session of the 105th Congress, on 

January 27, 1998, designating February 3 as Four 

Chaplains Day; and 


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•HRES 86 IH 

Whereas memorials to the chaplains’ heroic sacrifice abound 

in many places throughout the country, including the Heroes Window in the National Cathedral in Washington, 

District of Columbia, the Chapel at the Pentagon, and 

the Chapel at the United States Military Academy at 

West Point: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives remem2 bers the Four Immortal Chaplains who paid the ultimate 

3 sacrifice in the name of compassion for those of different 

4 races and faiths and requests the President issue a procla5 mation calling on the Federal Government, States, local6 ities, and the people of the United States to observe a day 

7 in their honor with appropriate ceremonies, programs, and 

8 activities. 

Æ 


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