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The Four Chaplain's medal


4STARCHRIS
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post-387-1185416540.jpg

 

Here are two Four Chaplain's Medals out of my collection. I do not know that I have seen them anywhere in the public. If someone has please tell me where?

Enjoy

4starchris

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post-387-1185417125.jpg

 

This is a commerative full size medal worn like any other full size medal on the jacket.

4starchris

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post-387-1185417284.jpg

 

This is a very large and HEAVY Full size neck ribbon of the Four Chaplain's Medal.

It comes in a named case.

4starchris

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post-387-1185417409.jpg

 

This is the reverse of the large, heavy neck medal.

4starchris

Almost left out. In my possession.

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CNY Militaria

I have never heard of this medal, but it looks very interesting! Do you know the history behind it?

 

Thanks!

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Chaplain's Medal for Heroism

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

The Chaplain's Medal for Heroism is a decoration of the United States military which was authorized by an act of the United States Congress on January 18, 1961. Also known as the Chaplain's Medal of Honor and the Four Chaplains' Medal, the decoration commemorates the actions of four United States military chaplains who gave their lives in the line of duty on February 3, 1943.

 

The Four Chaplains

The chaplains in question were four United States Army officers, these being Lieutenants Rev. George L. Fox (Methodist); Rabbi Alexander D. Goode (Jewish); Fr. John P. Washington (Roman Catholic); and Rev. Clark V. Poling (Dutch Reformed). The four chaplains were all sailing on the USAT Dorchester troop transport ship on 3 February 1943 when the vessel was torpedoed by the German U-Boat U-223. As the vessel sank, the four chaplains calmed the frightened soldiers and sailors, aided in the evacuation of the ship, and helped guide wounded men to safety. The chaplains also gave up their own life vests and the last thing seen of the ship by witnesses was the four chaplains, standing on deck with their arms linked, praying as the ship went down.

 

 

The Four Chaplains were honored by the Postal ServiceAll four of the chaplains were posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Service Cross. The Chaplain’s Medal for Heroism was authorized in 1961 and posthumously presented by the President of the United States to the families of the chaplains. The chaplains were also honored with a stamp, issued in 1948 and by an act of the United States Congress, designating 3 February as "Four Chaplains Day."

 

Because the Chaplain’s Medal for Heroism has only been authorized posthumously, and only for one action, it is generally considered a commemorative decoration not intended for wear on a military uniform. The medal also does not appear on any military award precedence charts, although it is considered to be ranking just below the Medal of Honor. The Chaplain's Medal for Heroism could technically be awarded again, if Congress ever bestowed the decoration for future acts of heroism involving military chaplains.

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A couple of years ago, I sold one of the large versions to a retired Army chaplain, who donated it to the Army Chaplain's Corps Museum. The Museum knew little about the medal, so they started tracking down the relatives of the original Four Chaplains. In three cases, the families had the medals and other items from the presentations.

 

In the fourth case (the Catholic chaplain, as I recall), the medal was in the hands of a nephew, who asked if the museum wanted it. He had been trying to donate it to the Smithsonian, which did not want it. The Chaplain's Museum was most happy to accept the offer, at which point the nephew asked if they wanted the other medals as well. The result was that they now have not only this medal, but the original DSC group and a life ring from USS Dorchester.

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JBFloyd,

Thank you for the reply. I have heard of such a story but could not confirm it. I have even call and written to the Chaplain's Museum and it fell on deaf ears. I may have to take a trip up a see for myself.

Can you tell by the case or boxes who made them?

Always a pleasure to hear form and do business with you.

4starchris

 

See you in The Woodlands, Texas. OMSA Conference.

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DOES ANYONE HAPPEN TO KNOW THE RARITY OF THESE MEDALS? I HAVE NEVER SEEN THEM IN A MUSEUM ANYWHERE. NOR HAVE I REALLY EVER HEARD ABOUT THEM. HAS ANYONE ELSE SEEN THESE BEFORE OR HAVE I BEEN IN A HOLE?

I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN ANY COMMENTS ONE MAY HAVE.

4STARCHRIS

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A friend of mine has one in his extensive collection of Military and American Society medals. He purchased his about four years ago at a military show. They are certainly not common. But, they are known.

 

Kevin

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I have seen them at shows ETC over the years. The company must have made many more than for the list of intended recipients.

 

Kurt

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A friend of mine has one in his extensive collection of Military and American Society medals. He purchased his about four years ago at a military show. They are certainly not common. But, they are known.

 

Kevin

 

Thank you for your reply. Did you have pics of your friends medal?

4starchris

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Thank you for your reply. Did you have pics of your friends medal?

4starchris

 

I have seen these around too. I am surprised that the museum has not heard about it.

 

There were several chaplains a few weeks after the four chaplains who did the same thing. They didn't get a medal. Very political and for propaganda use...this four chaplains medal. There is the four chaplains chapel in Philadelphia.

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4starchris,

 

I've been looking for the picture of my friend's medal. Since he sent me the image, I have changed computers. I am having a hard time finding images that are more than a year old. I'll still keep looking for you.

 

Kevin

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4starchris,

 

I've been looking for the picture of my friend's medal. Since he sent me the image, I have changed computers. I am having a hard time finding images that are more than a year old. I'll still keep looking for you.

 

Kevin

 

Kevin,

Thank you for your effort. I eagerly await to see what your friends medal looks like.

4starchris

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  • 2 weeks later...

post-387-1187661406.jpg

 

I had an oppurtunity to take a pic of an "original" Chaplain Medal and its case.

Here is the case.

Enjoy.

4starchris

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post-387-1187661563.jpg

 

Here is the "original" medal that was in it. Notice this medal appears to have a "pad" and the medal is suspended from it.

Enjoy.

4starchris

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post-387-1187661563.jpg

 

Here is the "original" medal that was in it. Notice this medal appears to have a "pad" and the medal is suspended from it.

Enjoy.

4starchris

 

The one with the solid medium blue ribbon is the one I remember having seen song ago.

 

I seem to remember that, after the loss of the four, there was a highly-charged push to have the four Chaplains awarded the Medal of Honor. Since the loss criteria did not meet that required for award of the MoH and, thankfully, the criteria were not bent in that incident for pilitical purposes, the 4 Chaplains medal was created with a ribbon exactly like that of the MoH except for the lack of the white stars. I guess the dark blue of the border on the later example was added to further visually differentiate the ribbon from the MoH.

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post-387-1188066360.jpg

 

This is a very large and heavy medal. This is probably one of the heaviest and largest medal the US has ever made.

Does anyone know of any bigger or heavier medal?

let me know.

Enjoy.

4starchris

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  • 5 months later...

Four chaplains to be honored Feb. 3

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Contributed by: Douglas County on 1/16/2008

 

Memorable story continues to touch those who hear it

The Harry Miller Post #1187 of Castle Rock will be honoring four chaplains who passed away during World War II (WWII) on Sunday, Feb. 3 at 2 p.m. at the New Hope Presbyterian Church at 2100 W. Meadows Pkwy. in Castle Rock. Guests are invited to the ceremony and to stay for a fellowship gathering.

 

"The Four Chaplains Ceremony is the most moving and finest tribute to spiritual leaders of different faiths who willingly gave their lives so other young soldiers may live," said Marvin Meyers, member of the Colorado Board of Veterans Affairs and who has helped plan this ceremony for the past three years. "It is an unequaled example of the strength of their belief in God and of man's love for his fellow man. I would urge everyone, especially in this time of war, to participate in this wonderful and stirring event."

 

The four chaplains - Father John Washington (Catholic), Reverend Clark Poling (Dutch Reformed), Rabbi Alexander Goode (Jewish) and Reverend George Fox (Methodist) - continue to be of interest to veterans and the public since their heroic act occurred on Feb. 3, 1943.

 

A convoy of three ships and three escorting Coast Guard cutters passed through "torpedo alley" some 100 miles off the coast of Greenland around 1 a.m. The submarine U-223 fired three torpedoes, one of which hit the midsection of a U.S. Army troopship called the Dorchester with more than 900 men on board.

 

The four chaplains on board calmed the men and began handing out life jackets. When no more life jackets were left, the four chaplains removed their own and gave them to waiting soldiers regardless of their faith or race. The ship went down approximately 18 minutes after the explosion and witnesses saw the four chaplains standing arm-in-arm on the hull of the ship, each praying in their own way for the care of the men.

 

Almost 700 died, making this incident the third largest loss of its kind at sea for the U.S. during WWII. The Coast Guard cutters, Comanche and Escanaba, disobeyed orders to search for the German U-Boat and instead stopped to rescue 230 men from the frigid waters that night.

 

These four chaplains were later honored by Congress and President Eisenhower for their selfless acts of courage, compassion and faith. They demonstrated throughout the voyage and in their last moments, interfaith compassion in their relationship with the soldiers and with each other.

 

Congress created a special Congressional Medal of Valor in 1960, never to be repeated again, and gave it to the next of kin of the "Immortal Chaplains." For more information on the Congressional Medal of Valor, please visit www.foxfall.com/fmc-fcm.htm.

 

For more information on this ceremony, please contact Henry Bohne, manager of the Douglas County Office of Veterans Affairs at 303-688-4825, Ext. 5359.

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  • 1 year later...

I just saw a news story about today being the 66th Anniversary of the loss of the USAT Dorchester, and the Four Chaplains, so I thought I'd add a quick post here to bring this thread back up and to refer it to another post / thread I just started, related to this one.

 

MW

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...showtopic=35829

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Also, I did pick one of these medals up a few months ago - it's nice!

 

I just got the loose medal though, no case, I have absolutely no idea where I am going to find the "correct" case for mine though.

 

Anyone have any ideas?

 

MW

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