Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Medal of Honor

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Boatswain’s Mate First Class

    Division:

    U.S.S. Trenton

    Action Date:

    October 20, 1924

    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.

  • Navy Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Boatswain’s Mate First Class

    Division:

    U.S.S. Trenton

    Action Date:

    October 20, 1924

    The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (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.