George R. Cholister
The Congressional Medal of Honor was not only presented to heroes in wartime, It was also presented to military members who go above and beyond to aid others in times of service and peace. Such was the case with Boatswain’s Mate First Class George Robert Cholister whose Medal was presented for heroism during an interim conflict era from 1920 to 1940.
Boatswain’s Mate First Class George Cholister must have had a premonition about his death.
Shortly before leaving for duty aboard the USS Trenton, Cholister told his brother he felt the ship was a jinx for him and something was going to happen. The SS Trenton, an Omaha-class light cruiser, the second ship named for the state capital.
A month later, on Oct. 20, 1924, the Sailor was one of the Navy men severely injured or killed aboard the ship when there was a sudden explosion while the ship and crew of 400 were undergoing target practice off Norfolk News, Virginia He died the following day at the Naval hospital in Virginia.
The explosion occurred when the powder bags in the forward turret exploded and killed or injured every member of the gun crew.
Although not recognized in newspaper articles immediately following the explosion aboard the ship, nine years later, Cholister’ s family was presented with the Medal of Honor for his bravery during the accident.
Ensign Henry Drexler a Pennsylvania native, who was also killed in the explosion, was also presented with the Medal of Honor for his heroism in rescuing some of the injured. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
A native of Camden County, Cholister lived in Merchantville and was on his third enlistment in the Navy when he was assigned to the USS Trenton. He was 25 years old and one of six sons and one daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Cholister.
His brother was killed while serving with the Navy in World War II.
When the Medal of Honor recipient was buried, a contingent of 16 sailors escorted her body to its final resting place at Colestown Cemetery, the same burial ground where his father was caretaker and where he had assisted his father when home on leave.
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.
Other stories about Jersey’s own that were awarded the Medal of Honor HERE
