Coxswain George Willis, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on September 22, 1873 off the coast of Greenland, Greenland — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1871 - 1899 period. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Tigress. Willis was about 34 years old.
Willis was born in 1839 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. His Medal of Honor is credited to Massachusetts. Willis died on October 12, 1884 in Worcester, Massachusetts, at the age of about 45. He is buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Medford, Massachusetts.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Serving on board the U.S.S. Tigress, Willis displayed gallant and meritorious conduct on the night of 22 September 1873 off the coast of Greenland.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
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Timeline
- 1839Born in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
- September 22, 1873Act of valor — off the coast of Greenland, GreenlandAge about 34. U.S.S. Tigress
- October 12, 1884Died in Worcester, MassachusettsAge about 45.
- Resting placeOak Grove CemeteryMedford, Massachusetts
Biography
George Willis (c. 1840 – December 7, 1884) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
From the Wikipedia article “George Willis (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →