Four Chaplains Day is observed in the USA on February 3, commemorating the events of February 3, 1943, when the troop ship USAT Dorchester sank after being torpedoed by a German submarine. The ship was carrying four chaplains—George L. Fox, Alexander D. Goode, Clark V. Poling, and John P. Washington—who helped calm passengers and organized an evacuation. As the life vests ran out, the chaplains selflessly gave their own vests to others and linked arms, praying and singing hymns as they went down with the ship. In recognition of their bravery, the chaplains were posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Service Cross. Congress established February 3 as Four Chaplains Day in 1988, and the day is observed with official proclamations and, in some instances, flags flown at half-mast.