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; Lieu-
tenant 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 chap-
lains 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 re-
counted 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 call-
ing 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 He-
roes 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 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives remem-
bers the Four Immortal Chaplains who paid the ultimate 
sacrifice in the name of compassion for those of different 
races and faiths and requests the President issue a procla-
mation calling on the Federal Government, States, local-
ities, and the people of the United States to observe a day 
in their honor with appropriate ceremonies, programs, and 
activities. 
Æ 
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