The United States Army Hymn (Eternal Father, Hear Our Prayer) 4-Part - Digital Sheet Music

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The History of the Four Immortal Chaplains and the United States Army Hymn

During World War II, four Army chaplains met at the Army Chaplains School at Harvard University. ere, they received training for their assignments in the European theater. They then boarded and sailed on the United States Army Transport (USAT) Dorchester to report to their new assignments.

The USAT Dorchester left New York on January 23, 1943, en route to Greenland. She carried about 900 military personnel and was escorted by Coast Guard Cutters Tampa, Escanaba, and Comanche. During the early morning hours of February 3, 1943, the vessel was torpedoed by the German submarine U-223 off Newfoundland in the North Atlantic.

As the Dorchester sank on that fateful day of February 3, 1943, the four Army chaplains on board helped their soldiers board lifeboats as they handed out life jackets. When they ran out of life jackets, the chaplains gave their own life jackets to four soldiers that they might live. Then the chaplains joined arms and prayed as they went down with the Dorchester.

These were young chaplains, new to the Army, holding the rank of first lieutenant. They included Methodist minister Reverend George L. Fox, Reform Rabbi Alexander D. Goode, Catholic priest Father John P. Washington, and Reformed Church in America minister Reverend Clark V. Poling. e four chaplains were posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Purple Heart.

Chaplain (MAJ) James F. Linzey, USA (Ret.), who was one of four military chaplains in his family, composed the United States Army Hymn, “Eternal Father, Hear Our Prayer,” in remembrance of the “Four Immortal Chaplains” on board the Dorchester.