b. 18/12/1898 Camden, New Jersey. d. 21/10/1924 Hampton Roads, Virginia.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 20/10/1924 VIRGINIA CAPE, NORFOLK, ON BOARD THE U.S.S. TRENTON, VIRGINIA.
George R Cholister MOH
US Navy Peacetime Medal of Honor Recipient. Served in the United States Navy as a Boatswain’s Mate First Class on board the light cruiser “USS Trenton” (CL-11). He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery during an accident while the ship was conducting gunnery drills near Norfolk, Virginia on October 20, 1924. His citation reads “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, 2 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 6 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”. His Medal was posthumously awarded to him by a Special Act of Congress on February 3, 1933. Ensign Henry Clay Drexler also lost his life in the fire on board the “Trenton”, and was also awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor for his heroism in the incident. The “USS Trenton” went on to fight in World War II, earning one Battle Star before being scrapped in 1946.
MOH 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 October 20, 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, 2 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 6 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.
BURIAL LOCATION: COLESTOWN CEMETERY, COLESTOWN, NEW JERSEY.
SECTION D, LOT 6
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
