World War II Honoree

George Watson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Birmingham, Alabama

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

HE WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION ON MARCH 8, 1943. PRIVATE WATSON WAS ON BOARD A SHIP WHICH WAS ATTACKED AND HIT BY ENEMY BOMBERS. WHEN THE SHIP WAS ABANDONED, PRIVATE WATSON, INSTEAD OF SEEKING TO SAVE HIMSELF, REMAINED IN THE WATER ASSISTING SEVERAL SOLDIERS WHO COULD NOT SWIM TO REACH THE SAFETY OF THE RAFT. THIS HEROIC ACTION, WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY COST HIM HIS LIFE, RESULTED IN THE SAVING OF SEVERAL OF HIS COMRADES. WEAKENED BY HIS EXERTIONS, HE WAS DRAGGED DOWN BY THE SUCTION OF THE SINKING SHIP AND WAS DROWNED. PRIVATE WATSON'S EXTRAORDINARILY VALOROUS ACTIONS, DARING LEADERSHIP, AND SELF-SACRIFICING DEVOTION TO HIS FELLOW-MAN EXEMPLIFY THE FINEST TRADITIONS OF MILITARY SERVICE.