Kearny in Hudson County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Four Chaplains Interfaith in Action

Photographed by Nancy K Waller, January 23, 2022

1. The Four Chaplains Interfaith in Action Marker

Inscription. The Four Chaplains
Interfaith in Action On February 3, 1943 the transport ship USAT Dorchester was on route to Greenland carrying 901 soldiers, merchant seamen and civilians. Among these men were Four Chaplains; Methodist Minister Rev. George Fox, Rabbi Alexander Goode, Dutch Reform Minister Rev. Clark Poling and St. Stephen's own Fr. John P. Washington. At 12:55 AM a German U-boat fired a torpedo and hit the right hull of the Dorchester where soldiers were sleeping. They were killed instantly. The ship lost power and went dark. Panic overwhelmed those on board. The Four Chaplains made their way, in the freezing cold, to the top deck to guide soldiers to lifeboats and pass out life jackets. After giving out the last of the life jackets, the Four Chaplains removed their own and gave them to four soldiers. The ship sank within eighteen minutes. Witnesses testified the last thing they saw were the Four Chaplains on the stern with locked arms, singing hymns in English, Hebrew and Latin and praying as the ship went down.

"No one has greater love then this, to lay down one's life for one's friends" John 15:13

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This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • Religion & Religious Structures • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is February 3, 1943.

Location. 40° 46.434′ N, 74° 8.592′ W. Memorial is in Kearny, New Jersey, in Hudson County. It is on Kearny Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Located next to Saint Stephen's Church. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 676 Kearny Avenue, Kearny NJ 07032, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in North Jersey,

in Greater Newark,

and in the New York City Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Major General Philip Kearny (approx. 0.4 miles away); Scottish American Monument (approx. half a mile away);

Photographed by Nancy K Waller, February 6, 2022

2. The Four Chaplains Interfaith in Action Marker

Monument of the Four Chaplains on the site of St. Stephen's Church served by Father John P. Washington.

Wallace Glen (approx. half a mile away); Christ Church Episcopal (approx. ¾ mile away); LCpl Osbrany Montes de Oca Bridge (approx. 0.9 miles away); Route 7 Bridge (approx. 0.9 miles away); Belleville First Fire House (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Rutgers Bridge (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kearny.

Also see . . . SS Dorchester (Wikipedia). (Submitted on June 6, 2022, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 17, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 2, 2022, by Nancy K Waller of Kearny, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 488 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 2, 2022, by Nancy K Waller of Kearny, New Jersey. 2. submitted on June 6, 2022, by Nancy K Waller of Kearny, New Jersey. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.