Did you know that for as long as Americans have been fighting in wars, there have been chaplains serving alongside them? This year marks the 250th anniversary of the Chaplain Corps, which started July 29, 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized one chaplain for each regiment of the Army. These men were given pay equaling that of a captain and initially focused on supporting the religious needs of soldiers. Since those early days, the Chaplain Corps has grown to provide a wide range of spiritual and moral support for military members and their families. Though originally limited to Christian denominations, the Chaplain Corps has grown to represent five major faith groups (Buddhist, Catholic, Muslim, Protestant, and Jewish) and more than 120 denominations.
During World War II, the Chaplain Corps underwent a significant transformation, swelling in ranks from 140 chaplains prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor to around 9,000 having served during the war. Its crucial role in supporting troops, tending to both religious and spiritual needs, and at times performing intense acts of bravery, led to the Chaplain Corps formalizing its role as a component of the regular Army. During World War II, 24 chaplains were killed in action, 66 were wounded in action, eight were captured (and later released), and 246 received awards and decorations for their actions.
The significant contributions of the Chaplain Corps during World War II are embodied in the actions of four chaplains who served on board the SS Dorchester. With more than 900 soldiers on board en route to the United Kingdom via Greenland, the SS Dorchester was fatally torpedoed by a German U-boat on February 2, 1943. Reverend George L. Fox (Methodist), Rabbi Alexander D Goode (Jewish), Reverend Clark V. Polling (Reformed Church in America), and Father John P. Washington (Roman Catholic) worked to organize soldiers into lifeboats and aid in the evacuation. When all the life jackets were gone, the four men offered their own to soldiers without. The four men stood on deck, praying together as the ship sank. Their actions were recognized with posthumous awards of the Purple Heart and Distinguished Service Cross. In 1961, after a campaign to award the men the Medal of Honor, President Eisenhower posthumously awarded the men with a unique recognition, the Special Medal for Heroism. This honor was intended to carry the same weight and importance as the Medal of Honor, which the men did not qualify for as the Medal of Honor requires “combat with the enemy.”
This season at the museum, we will honor the commitment of “Those Who Cared for Those Who Served” during World War II, including the Chaplain Corps. Join us September 15-October 31 for a special look at the often unsung heroes who cared for our troops, including chaplains, field medics, hospital corpsmen, and more.
