World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
George Watson
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Birmingham, Alabama
Honored By
Elpidio Manoso III (MAJ, US Army Retired)
WWII Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He joined the Army on September 1, 1942 as a member of the 2nd Battalion, 29th Quartermaster Regiment. On March 8, 1943, he was on-board a ship near New Guinea when it was attacked by Japanese bombers. The ship was badly damaged and everyone was ordered overboard. Rather than swimming to safety on one of the life boats, he remained in the water assisting others who were unable to swim reach safety. It is believed he drowned when he was unable to get clear of the turbulence when the ship went under the water. His body was never recovered. Shortly after his death he was awarded Distinguished Service Cross, becoming the first African-American to receive that honor in WWII. He was also awarded the Purple Heart. In 1997, after the reports of his actions were reevaluated, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President William Clinton.