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Service Details |
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Last Rank
Petty Officer First Class
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Last Primary NEC
BM-0000-Boatswain's Mate
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Last Rating/NEC Group
Boatswain's Mate
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Primary Unit
1922-1924, BM-0000, USS Trenton (CL-11)
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Service Years
1916 - 1924
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Personal Details
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Home State
New Jersey | |
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Year of Birth
1898 |
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This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Gregg Baitinger, BM1
to remember
Cholister, George Robert (MOH), BM1c.
If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
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Contact Info
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Home Town
Camden, NJ |
Last Address
Camden, NJ
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Date of Passing
Oct 21, 1924 |
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Location of Interment
Colestown Cemetery - Colestown, New Jersey |
Wall/Plot Coordinates
Section D, Lot 6 |
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Last Known Activity
The United States Senate under a special bill, awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor to the dead hero. The medal was presented to Harry Chol!ster, Sr, of Colestown, father of the dead hero, who also received the Navy Cross posthumous Award to his son from President Coolidge. He had initially received the Navy Cross for this action.
The awarding of the Medal of Honor to this recipient is one of a handful that was awarded during a non war time event.
During the World War I , Cholister served on a submarine in the North Sea and was later tranferred to the U. S. Destroyer Fanning, which was officially credited with sinking three German submarines.
He served in China and Japan for four years, during the earthquake disaster. Another brother, Walter, died in the Naval service at Guantanamo Bay in January, 1922.
George R. Chollster was survived by his father, Harry Chollster, Sr., and three brothens, Harry, Earl and Russell B., who served In the Navy from 1916 to 1920, and a sister, Mrs. Mary E. App.
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Other Comments:
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Name of Award
Navy Medal of Honor |
Year Awarded
1933
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Awarded for actions during the Peace Time Awards
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Boatswain's Mate First Class George Robert Cholister, United States Navy, 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 ten later from burns and inhalation of flames and gases. The six others were severely injured. Boatswain's Mate First Class 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.
Action Date: 20-Oct-24
Service: Navy
Rank: Boatswain's Mate First Class
Division: U.S.S. Trenton |
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