Alexander David Goode
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Chaplain Corps

Alexander David Goode was born on 10 May 1911.

Goode was one of the four Army Chaplains who lost their lives when the USS Dorchester was hit by a torpedo and sank on 3 February 1943. The four Chaplains helped other soldiers board lifeboats and gave up their life jackets when the supply ran out. Only 230 men of the 902 aboard survived the attack.

A chapel was dedicated on 3 February 1951 by President Harry S. Truman to honor these soldiers of different faiths (one was Jewish, one Catholic and two Protestant).

All were posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Purple Heart. The Distinguished Service Cross is the Army's second highest award for valor.

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Chaplain) Alexander D. Goode (ASN: 0-485093), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States. On the night of 3 February 1943, the U.S.A.T. Dorchester, a loaded troop transport, was torpedoed without warning by an enemy submarine in the North Atlantic and began to sink rapidly. In the resulting confusion and darkness some men found themselves without life jackets and others became helpless through fear and the dread of plunging into the freezing water. Chaplain Goode with three fellow Chaplains, moved about the deck, heroically and calmly, encouraging the men and assisting them to abandon ship. After the available supply of life jackets was exhausted they gave up their own and remained aboard ship and went down with it, offering words of encouragement and prayers to the last. Chaplain Fox's great self-sacrifice, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplifies the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the Chaplains Corps, and the United States Army.

General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 93 (December 28, 1944)

Death

First Lieutenant Alexander David Goode died on 3 February 1943 while saving others. None of the bodies were recovered and are considered lost at sea. A memorial stone for Goode is located at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.