George Robert Cholister

Infobox Military Person
name= George Robert Cholister
born= birth date|1898|12|18
died= death date and age|1924|10|21|1898|12|18
placeofbirth= Camden New Jersey
placeofdeath= Hampton Roads, off Norfolk, Virginia
picture=
caption= George Robert Cholister
nickname=
allegiance= flag|United States
branch= United States Navy
serviceyears= ??- 1924
rank= Boatswain's Mate, 1st class
commands=
unit= USS Trenton
battles= none, peacetime award
awards= Medal of Honor
laterwork=

George Robert Cholister was a United States Navy sailor awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor for his actions on 20 October 1924. His medal was awarded by a special act of the United States Congress. Ensign Henry Clay Drexler was awarded a Medal of Honor and Navy Cross for the same heroism. Boatswain's Mate Cholister is buried in Cherry Hill, New Jersey at Colestown Cemetery. [findagrave|7196019]

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Boatswain's Mate First Class, U.S. Navy. Born: 18 December 1898, Camden, N.J. Accredited to: New Jersey. (Awarded by Special Act of Congress 3 February 1933.)

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, 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.

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Medal of Honor recipients during Peacetime

References