1. Biography

2. Military awards

3. Medal of Honor Citation

4. See also

5. References

6. External links

George Watson (1915 – March 8, 1943) was a United States Army private who gave his life rescuing several soldiers from drowning at sea during World War II. In 1996, he was awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration for valor, for his actions on March 8, 1943, near Porlock Harbor, New Guinea.

Watson was one of seven black soldiers whose Distinguished Service Cross awards from the war were upgraded to the Medal of Honor. On January 13, 1997, the Medal of Honor was posthumously presented to James by President Bill Clinton during a Medals of Honor ceremony at the White House in Washington, D.C. The seven Medal of Honor recipients are the first black Americans to be awarded the medal for World War II.^[1][2]

Biography

Watson was born in Birmingham, Alabama. He attended Colorado A&M (Colorado State University) and graduated in 1942.^[3] He was married with one daughter.^[4] Watson was drafted and entered into the U.S. Army on September 1, 1942.^[5] After basic training at Camp Lee, Virginia,^[6] he was sent to Charleston, South Carolina. Next, he was sent to and arrived at Newport News, Virginia, where he embarked on the USS Hermitage (AP-54) which departed on December 27 for the Pacific Theatre.^[7] He was a member of the 2nd Battalion, 29th Quartermaster Regiment as a bath and laundry specialist.^[8] On January 31, 1943, after arriving at Brisbane, Austrailia, he embarked on the 's Jacob, a U.S. Army controlled chartered Dutch steamer.^[9]

On March 8, 1943, the Army transport Jacob was near Porlock Harbor, New Guinea, when it was attacked by nine high-flying Japanese bombers. The bombers scored three direct hits on the Jacob causing a large fire which could not be extinguished, so the order was given for all to abandon ship. After the ship was abandoned, Watson remained in the water and, instead of trying to save himself, assisted soldiers who could not swim into life rafts. Weakened by his exertions, he was dragged down by the suction of the sinking ship and drowned.^[10]The minesweeper {{HMAS|Bendigo|J187|6}} which had been escorting the Jacob, rescued 158 men. Watson's body was never recovered. He was awarded posthumously the Army's second-highest medal for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for extraordinary heroism. He was the first Black American serviceman in World War II to receive this decoration.

In the early 1990s, it was determined that Black American soldiers had been denied consideration for the Medal of Honor (MOH) in World War II because of their race. In 1993, the U.S. Army had contracted Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, to research and determine if there was racial disparity in the review process for recipients of the MOH. The study commissioned by the U.S. Army, described systematic racial discrimination in the criteria for awarding decorations during World War II. After an exhaustive review of files, the study recommended in 1996 that ten Black soldiers who received the DSC from World War II have their DSCs upgraded to the MOH. In October of that year, Congress passed legislation that would allow President Bill Clinton to award the Medal of Honor to these soldiers. Seven of the ten DSC recipients were approved and awarded the MOH including Watson.^[11] On January 13, 1997, President Bill Clinton presented the MOH to the seven Black Americans; Watson and five others were posthumously presented the MOH. The Sergeant Major of the Army, Gene C. McKinney, accepted the MOH on behalf of Pvt. Watson from Clinton during the ceremony.^[12][13] Vernon Baker was the only living recipient of the medal at the time.^[14][15]

Watson's Medal of Honor is displayed in the U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum in Fort Lee, Virginia.^[16]

Several places and structures have been named in Watson's honor, including a field in Fort Benning, Georgia.^[17] In 1997, the United States Navy ship {{USNS|Watson|T-AKR-310}}; the Watson is the lead ship of her class of large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off (LMSR) ships.^[18][19]

Watson is memorialized at Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines.^[20]

Military awards

Watson's decorations and awards:

Medal of Honor Citation

Watson's Medal of Honor citation reads:^[21]

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor posthumously to

Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty: Private George Watson distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism on 8 March 1843, while serving in the Pacific Command with the 2d Battalion, 29th Quartermaster Regiment, near Porlock Harbor, New Guinea. Private Watson was onboard a troop ship, the Dutch Steamer (United States Army Transport) Jacob, when it was attacked and hit by enemy bombers. Before it sank, the ship was abandoned. Privat Watson, instead of seeking to save himself, remained in deep waters long enough to assist several soldiers who could not swim to reach the safety of a life raft. This heroic action, which subsequently cost him his life, resulted in saving the lives of several of his comrades. Weakened by continuous physical exertion and overcome by muscular fatigue, Private Wason drowned when the suction of the sinking ship dragged him beneath the surface of the swirling waters. His demonstrated bravery and unselfish act set in motion a train of compelling events that finally led to American victory in the Pacific. Private Watson's extraordinary valorous actions, his daring and inspiring leadership, and his self-sacrificing devotion to his fellow man exemplify the finest traditions of military service.

/S/ Bill Clinton

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II
• List of African American Medal of Honor recipients

References

• Kelly, S.H. {{cite web

• {{Hall of Valor|1049|accessdate=August 28, 2011}}

External links

• {{cite web|accessdate=2010-04-12|url=http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=41466

• {{cite web |accessdate=2007-09-10 |url=http://www.msc.navy.mil/inventory/citations/watson.htm |title=MSC: Medal of Honor recipients |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070706013400/http://www.msc.navy.mil/inventory/citations/watson.htm |archivedate=2007-07-06 |df= }}

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