An American Hero

There are countless stories we all recall learning about from World War II. However, every now and then, I’ll hear a new story that leaves me thinking “How did I not know about this?” One such story is that of Bath and Laundry Specialist, Private George Watson.

I first learned of his story when I was being training as a tour guide at the U.S Army Quartermaster Museum in Ft. Lee, Virginia. Watson was one of around 1.2 million African Americans who served in WWII. However, as his title suggests, he did not have one of the more “glorious” jobs as you might assume an American soldier would have in the Second World War. Rather, his days consisted of cleaning and washing clothes for other soldiers. However, Watson’s story shows that courage, bravery, and selflessness, is not confined to job title or rank.

A part of the 29th Quartermaster regiment, Private Watson was assigned to serve on a ship, the USAT Jacob, in 1943. On March 8, 1943, as the ship neared Porlock Harbor, New Guinea, there was a sudden and tragic airstrike led by the Japanese. The bombs severely damaged the USAT Jacob and the “abandon ship” order was given. Every man for himself.

Watson, however, refused a life jacket before abandoning the ship. He spotted a fellow soldier in the waters struggling to survive and without hesitation, jumped into the rough waters, and brought the soldier to safety on a nearby raft. Pretty remarkable, right?

However, what makes Watson even more heroic is the fact that he kept jumping back into the wild waters, with the ship sinking and debris flying everywhere, to save another soldier. Then another, then another, and then another. Private Watson ended up saving around nine men that devastating night.

Tragically, after Watson brought his fellow comrades to safety, a mixture of exhaustion and the power of the waves sucked him down into the sea. Watson died saving other soldiers. He put the lives of other men before his own.

Though Private Watson was the first African American to receive the Distinguished Service Cross, he did not receive the full recognition he deserved until 1997 when he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Unfortunately, no family or friends survived to see this award bestowed on Watson. His medal of honor can now be seen by anyone at the U.S Army Quartermaster Museum in Ft. Lee, VA.

Though Watson was not alive to be presented with this award, his story and his honor lives on. Private George Watson is a true American hero who in the face of adversity, chose to put others before himself. Pass along an American hero’s story. Help his legacy live on.

Additional Sources:

http://www.military.com/army/pvt-george-watson.html

http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=1049

https://www.pacificwrecks.com/valor/moh/watson/index.html