George Charrette

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George Charrette
June 6, 1867 - February 7, 1938
George Charrette
Place of birth Lowell, Massachusetts
Place of death Lowell, Massachusetts
Allegiance USN
Years of service 1884-1925
Rank Lieutenant
Battles/wars Spanish-American War
Awards Medal of Honor

George Charrette (6 June 18677 February 1938) was an enlisted man and later officer in the United States Navy who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism during the Spanish-American War.

Charrette was born in Lowell, Massachusetts on 6 June 1867. He enlisted in the United States Navy 24 September 1884. As a gunner's mate third class, on 2 June 1898, he volunteered with seven others to sink Merrimac under heavy Spanish fire across the entrance to the harbor of Santiago, Cuba, thus bottling up the enemy fleet. Taken prisoner by the Spanish, Charrette was exchanged 6 July 1898. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism, although his name was misspelled as George Charette on the citation. Charrette was commissioned lieutenant on 3 August 1920, and retired from the Navy in 1925. He died 7 February 1938 in Lowell, Massachusetts and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia.

In 1943, the destroyer USS Charrette (DD-581) was named in his honor.

[edit] References

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.