John P. Washington was born in Newark, NJ on July 18, 1908. His parents were Frank & Mary; in addition they had daughters Mary & Anna, & sons Thomas, Francis, Leo & Edmund. In 1914, John was enrolled at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Elementary School. In those days, times were rough for a poor immigrant family, but John helped out; he took a newspaper route to help his mother with extra money. John was active in sports & he also began piano lessons. He loved music & sang in the church choir. When he entered seventh grade, he felt strongly about becoming a priest…during the previous year, he became an altar boy & his priestly destiny was in process. <br />John entered Seton Hall in South Orange, NJ to complete his high school & college courses in preparation for the priesthood. He graduated in 1931 with an A.B. degree. He entered Immaculate Conception Seminary in Darlington, NJ & received his minor orders on May 26, 1933. John was elected prefect of his class & was ordained a priest on June 15, 1935. <br /> Shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack of December 7, 1941, he received his appointment as a chaplain in the United States Army. Father Washington went on active duty May 9, 1942. He was named Chief of the Chaplains Reserve Pool, in Ft. Benjamin Harrison, IN. In June 1942, he was assigned to the 76th Infantry Division in Ft. George Meade, MD. In November 1942, he reported to Camp Myles Standish in Taunton, MA and met Chaplains Fox, Goode and Poling at Chaplains School at Harvard.<br />Father Washington boarded the U.S.A.T. Dorchester at the Embarkation Camp at Boston Harbor in January 1943 en route to Greenland. Chaplain Washington was killed in action on February 3, 1943, when the Dorchester was sunk by a German U-boat. Chaplain Washington was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Distinguished Service Cross.

John P. Washington was born in Newark, NJ on July 18, 1908. His parents were Frank & Mary; in addition they had daughters Mary & Anna, & sons Thomas, Francis, Leo & Edmund. In 1914, John was enrolled at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Elementary School. In those days, times were rough for a poor immigrant family, but John helped out; he took a newspaper route to help his mother with extra money. John was active in sports & he also began piano lessons. He loved music & sang in the church choir. When he entered seventh grade, he felt strongly about becoming a priest…during the previous year, he became an altar boy & his priestly destiny was in process.
John entered Seton Hall in South Orange, NJ to complete his high school & college courses in preparation for the priesthood. He graduated in 1931 with an A.B. degree. He entered Immaculate Conception Seminary in Darlington, NJ & received his minor orders on May 26, 1933. John was elected prefect of his class & was ordained a priest on June 15, 1935.
Shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack of December 7, 1941, he received his appointment as a chaplain in the United States Army. Father Washington went on active duty May 9, 1942. He was named Chief of the Chaplains Reserve Pool, in Ft. Benjamin Harrison, IN. In June 1942, he was assigned to the 76th Infantry Division in Ft. George Meade, MD. In November 1942, he reported to Camp Myles Standish in Taunton, MA and met Chaplains Fox, Goode and Poling at Chaplains School at Harvard.
Father Washington boarded the U.S.A.T. Dorchester at the Embarkation Camp at Boston Harbor in January 1943 en route to Greenland. Chaplain Washington was killed in action on February 3, 1943, when the Dorchester was sunk by a German U-boat. Chaplain Washington was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Distinguished Service Cross.