Charles George
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For other persons named Charles George, see Charles George (disambiguation).
| Charles George | |
|---|---|
| August 23, 1932 – November 30, 1952 (aged 20) | |
 Medal of Honor recipient |
|
| Place of birth | Cherokee, North Carolina |
| Place of death | Near Songnae-dong, Korea |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | -1952 |
| Rank | Private First Class |
| Unit | Company C, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | Korean War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
Charles George (August 23, 1932–November 30, 1952) was a U.S. Army soldier who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in combat on November 30, 1952, during the Korean War. He was fatally wounded when he threw himself on a grenade to protect other soldiers in his company and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
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[edit] Biography
George was born in Cherokee, North Carolina. He entered service at Whittier, North Carolina. At the time of George's death in battle he held the rank of Private First Class in Company C of the 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. The action for which he won the Medal of Honor was near Songnae-dong, Korea.
[edit] Medal of Honor citation
The Medal of Honor was awarded on March 18, 1954. The citation read:
- Pfc. George, a member of Company C, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy on the night of 30 November 1952. He was a member of a raiding party committed to engage the enemy and capture a prisoner for interrogation. Forging up the rugged slope of the key terrain feature, the group was subjected to intense mortar and machine gun fire and suffered several casualties. Throughout the advance, he fought valiantly and, upon reaching the crest of the hill, leaped into the trenches and closed with the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. When friendly troops were ordered to move back upon completion of the assignment, he and 2 comrades remained to cover the withdrawal. While in the process of leaving the trenches a hostile soldier hurled a grenade into their midst. Pfc. George shouted a warning to 1 comrade, pushed the other soldier out of danger, and, with full knowledge of the consequences, unhesitatingly threw himself upon the grenade, absorbing the full blast of the explosion. Although seriously wounded in this display of valor, he refrained from any outcry which would divulge the position of his companions. The 2 soldiers evacuated him to the forward aid station]] and shortly thereafter he succumbed to his wound. Pfc. George's indomitable courage, consummate devotion to duty, and willing self-sacrifice reflect the highest credit upon himself and uphold the finest traditions of the military service.[1]
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
- "CHARLES GEORGE" entry. Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War. Center of Military History (CMH), United States Army (July 16, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-12-31.
