Service Over Survival: Honoring “the Four” This Memorial Day
Today is Memorial Day — a day to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.
It’s a sacred day. On it, we remember that freedom has a cost and that greatness always requires sacrifice.
And on this day, there’s no story more fitting to reflect on than that of The Four Chaplains — four men who didn’t wear rank on their collar but led with a kind of courage and character that still moves us nearly a century later.
February 3, 1943: The Night the Dorchester Was Hit
The SS Dorchester was a U.S. Army transport ship carrying 902 men across the icy waters of the North Atlantic. War was raging. Submarines hunted beneath the surface. The danger was expected — but that didn’t make it any less real.
Just after midnight, a German U-boat torpedoed the ship.
The explosion knocked out power. Panic set in. Freezing seawater rushed in. Soldiers scrambled for life jackets, lifeboats, and anything that might keep them alive in the darkness.
But in the middle of that chaos stood four chaplains. Calm. Composed. Serving.
Who Were “The Four”?
Lt. George L. Fox – Methodist minister
Lt. Alexander D. Goode – a Jewish rabbi
Lt. John P. Washington – Roman Catholic priest
Lt. Clark V. Poling – Dutch Reformed minister
They were different in faith but united in purpose.
As panic grew and life jackets ran out, these men did something unimaginable:
They took off their jackets and gave them away.
They helped the wounded and comforted the terrified. In the ship’s final moments, they were seen locked arm-in-arm, praying, singing, and standing tall as the Dorchester slipped beneath the sea.
They were never seen again.
Why We Remember Them Today
Memorial Day isn’t about barbecues or long weekends.
It’s about remembering stories like this — of courage, of character, of quiet heroism.
The Four Chaplains didn’t die in combat.
They died in service — serving the men around them with everything they had, including their lives.
That’s leadership.
That’s sacrifice.
That’s what Memorial Day is about.
A Message for Athletes and Teams
Most of us will likely never have to make the kind of choice those four chaplains did. But your athletes?
They’ll face moments that demand leadership, courage, and service — every season, every game, every practice.
This story isn’t just history.
It’s a mirror — a way to show athletes what real leadership looks like.
So ask them:
Are you leading with service, or with ego?
Are you helping the people next to you succeed — or just chasing your own stats?
Are you building trust through your actions, not just your words?
Would you give up your “life vest” — the spotlight, the credit, even the starting role — so your teammate could grow?
Because great teams aren’t built on talent alone.
They’re built on servant leaders — athletes who ask,
“How can I help?” instead of “What’s in it for me?”
Use this story — not just to remember, but to raise the standard.
Final Thought: Honor by Living It
Today, on Memorial Day, we don’t just honor the fallen with silence or flags.
We honor them by living lives worthy of their sacrifice.
Let The Four Chaplains remind us that true leadership isn’t loud, flashy, or self-serving.
It’s quiet. Steady. Courageous.
And in moments that matter — it stands tall, arm-in-arm and gives everything for someone else.
May we lead like that.
May we live like that.
May we remember.
God bless every service man and woman who has worn a uniform to protect this great nation. Today, let us honor the truth that freedom comes at a cost; some have given everything.
