George L. Fox, a Methodist minister, Alexander D. Goode, a Jewish rabbi, Clark V. Poling, a Dutch Reformed minister, and John P. Washington, a Catholic priest, served as Army chaplains aboard the USAT Dorchester when, during the early morning hours of February 3, 1943, an enemy U-boat torpedoed the ship's midsection as it traveled in a convoy of six ships heading for Greenland. As the Dorchester quickly took on water and the order was given to abandon ship, the four chaplains passed out life vests until none remained, then gave up their own life vests so others might be saved. They were last seen arm-in-arm on the ship's hull, praying and singing hymns, before perishing as the Dorchester slipped beneath the icy waters of the North Atlantic.
