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Congressional Medal of Honor Society

Stories of Sacrifice

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Interim 1920 - 1940 - U.S. Navy

George Robert Cholister

Details
  • Rank: Boatswain's Mate First Class
  • Conflict/Era: Interim 1920 - 1940
  • Unit/Command:
    U.S.S. Trenton
  • Military Service Branch: U.S. Navy
  • Medal of Honor Action Date: October 20, 1924
  • Medal of Honor Action Place: Virginia Cape, Norfolk, on board the U.S.S. Trenton, Virginia
Citation
For extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession on the occasion of a fire on board the U.S.S. Trenton. At 3:35 on the afternoon of 20 October 1924, while the Trenton was preparing to fire trial installation shots from the two 6-inch guns in the forward twin mount of that vessel, two charges of powder ignited. Twenty men were trapped in the twin mount. Four died almost immediately and 10 later from burns and inhalation of flames and gases. The six others were severely injured. Cholister, without thought of his own safety, on seeing that the charge of powder from the left gun was ignited, jumped for the right charge and endeavored to put it in the immersion tank. The left charge burst into flame and ignited the right charge before Cholister could accomplish his purpose. He fell unconscious while making a supreme effort to save his shipmates and died the following day.
Medal of Honor Recipient George R. Cholister
Medal of Honor Recipient George R. Cholister
Additional Details
  • Accredited to: New Jersey
  • Awarded Posthumously: Yes
  • Presentation Date & Details: February 3, 1933
  • Born: December 18, 1898, Camden, Camden County, NJ, United States
  • Died: October 21, 1924
  • Buried: Colestown Cemetery (D), Cherry Hill, NJ, United States
 

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