One-hundred years ago, an accidental explosion onboard a Navy cruiser killed several men. Navy Boatswain's Mate 1st Class George Robert Cholister witnessed the blast and tried to stop the situation from getting worse. He lost his life in the attempt; and he later received the Medal of Honor for his heroics.
Cholister was born on Dec. 18, 1898, in Camden, New Jersey, to Harold and Hannah Cholister. He had a sister and three brothers, two of whom also served in the Navy. One of them, Walter, was killed during World War I.
George Cholister went to Ellisburg School in Delaware Township, New Jersey, before enlisting in the Navy in April 1916, according to American Legion Post 372.
During World War I, he served on a submarine in the North Sea before transferring to the USS Fanning, a destroyer that was credited with sinking three German U-boats. Members of American Legion Post 372 said he also served for a few years in China and Japan.
Cholister was on his third enlistment when tragedy occurred.
On Oct. 20, 1924, Cholister was serving on the USS Trenton, a new light cruiser that was about 40 miles off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia. The Trenton was doing gunnery drills, preparing to fire trial installation shots from two 6-inch guns on the ship's forward twin mount.
During that preparation, two charges of powder ignited and exploded, trapping 20 crew members in the twin mount. According to the Naval History and Heritage Command, "the explosion erupted with such force that it thrust open the rear steel door and blew five men overboard," one of whom drowned.
As it was happening, Cholister saw that the charge of powder from the left gun had ignited. Without any concern for himself, he jumped at it and tried to put it in the ship's immersion tank. However, the charge burst into flames on the way, igniting the second charge from the right gun before he could get there.
Cholister was overcome by the smoke and fell unconscious. He died the next day, his Medal of Honor citation said.
According to a 1932 article in the Camden, New Jersey, Courier Post newspaper, a naval inquiry determined the explosion was caused by friction resulting from contact between the gun and hoisting apparatus.
Four members of the gun crew died immediately from the explosion. Ten others later succumbed to smoke inhalation and other wounds, while six more were severely injured.
Eight years later, officials announced they would bestow Cholister with the Medal of Honor for his attempt to save other USS Trenton sailors. On Feb. 3, 1933, his father, Harry, received the medal on his behalf. Cholister also received the Navy Cross.
Ensign Henry Clay Drexler, a shipmate who served along Cholister on the USS Trenton, also lost his life in an effort to extinguish the fire. He, too, posthumously received the Medal of Honor.
Cholister is buried in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, at Colestown Cemetery, where his father spent years working as the superintendent.
VFW Post 3247 in Cherry Hill was named for Cholister after his death. His name is also inscribed on a bronze scroll at a memorial for Camden County veterans in Pennsauken, New Jersey.
This article is part of a weekly series called "Medal of Honor Monday," in which we highlight one of the more than 3,500 Medal of Honor recipients who have received the U.S. military's highest medal for valor.