Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Third Class Boy George Hollat received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 24, 1862 in Forts Jackson & St. Philip, Louisiana during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Varuna. Hollat was about 16 years old.
18 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Hollat was born in 1846 in London, England — one of 98 recipients born in England. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York. Hollat died on January 26, 1912 in Cleveland, Ohio, at the age of about 66. He is buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio. His medal is held by Naval Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC. Records also list him as Holah, George C..
Hollat is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Hollat served as third class boy on board the U.S.S. Varuna during an attack on Forts Jackson and St. Philip, 24 April 1862. He rendered gallant service through the perilous action and remained steadfast and courageous at his battle station despite extremely heavy fire and the ramming of the Varuna by the rebel ship Morgan, continuing his efforts until his ship, repeatedly holed and fatally damaged, was beached and sunk.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- 1846Born in London, England
- April 24, 1862Act of valor — Forts Jackson & St. Philip, LouisianaAge about 16. U.S.S. Varuna
- January 26, 1912Died in Cleveland, OhioAge about 66.
- Resting placeLakeview CemeteryCleveland, Ohio
Biography
George Hollat (b. April 11, 1845, d. January 26, 1912) was a Union Navy sailor in the American Civil War and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip. Born in 1846, Hollat was living in New York when he joined the Navy. He served during the Civil War as a third class boy on the USS Varuna. At the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip near New Orleans on April 24, 1862, Varuna was rammed twice by the Confederate steamer CSS Governor Moore (formerly known as the Charles Morgan) and eventually sunk. Hollat "remained steadfast and courageous at his battle station" throughout the close-range fight.
From the Wikipedia article “George Hollat”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
