Private George Watson
U.S. Army, 29th Quartermaster Regiment
 Background
George Watson was born March 24, 1914 in Laurel, Mississippi. Later, his family moved to Birmingham,
Alabama. He attended one year of high school and worked in transportation. At age 28, he was drafted into the U.S. Army with serial number 34229603. and attended basic training at Camp Lee, Virginia. Afterwards, sent to Charleston, South Carolina. Next, he arrived at Newport News, Virginia. Assigned to the 29th Quartermaster Regiment, 2nd Battalion as a laundry and bath specialist. Embarked as one of 10,000 personnel embarked aboard USS Hermitage (AP-54) that departed Newport News December 27, 1942 steaming via the Panama Canal then across the Pacific before arriving at Brisbane on January 31, 1943. Assigned to the s'Jacob a Dutch freighter in service with the U.S. Army as a transport.
Sinking History
On March 8, 1943 the s'Jacob was at sea off Porlock Harbor when the vessel came under sudden attack by Japanese planes. At 1:00pm, badly damaged
by a Japanese bomb the crew were ordered to abandon ship. During the sinking, instead of saving himself, Watson chose to assist several soldiers who could not swim to the safety of a life raft and saved several comrades before he became weakened from exhaustion and drown. His body was never recovered. It is believed he was unable to get clear
of the turbulence when the ship sank.
Relatives
Watson is survived by
his daughter Kay Adams and many grandchildren. Ms. Adams lives in
the Cleveland, Ohio area.
Awards
Watson was the first black solider in World War II
to earn the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), posthumously. He also earned the Purple Heart, posthumously.
Medal of Honor
Around 1.2 million African-Americans served
in World War II, but none received the Medal of Honor during or
after World War II. In the late 1990's the Army conducted a three year
review of the records of ten World War II black heroes to determine
if they met the standards for the Medal of Honor. Of these, seven
names were submitted to Congress and the President.
On January 13, 1997, at a White House ceremony, President
William J. Clinton bestowed the Medal of Honor on these seven African
American veterans of World War II. Only one of the recipients
was still alive to receive his award in person. The others had died
during the war or in the decades since, and were represented by next
of kin.
 Medal of Honor (March 8, 1943 earned 1997)
Citation: "For extraordinary heroism in action
on 8 March 1943. Private Watson was on board a ship which was
attacked and hit by enemy bombers. When the ship was abandoned,
Private Watson, instead of seeking to save himself, remained
in the water assisting several soldiers who could not swim to
reach the safety of the raft. This heroic action, which subsequently
cost him his life, resulted in the saving of several of his
comrades. Weakened by his exertions, he was dragged down by
the suction of the sinking ship and was drowned. Private Watson's
extraordinarily valorous actions, daring leadership, and self-sacrificing
devotion to his fellow-man exemplify the finest traditions of
military service." |
Memorials
Watson was officially declared dead the day of the sinking and his status is officially listed as buried at sea, although his body was never recovered or buried. He is memorialized at Manila American
Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. At Fort Benning, Georgia there is "George Watson Memorial
Field" named in his honor. The Alabama Veterans Memorial Foundation
honored Watson with a special ceremony and commemorative plaque
to be place in the Grand Memorial courtyard on Memorial Day, 2003.
USNS Watson (T-AKR-310) launched July 26, 1997 was named in his honor as the lead ship in the Watson Class Vehicle Cargo Ship- (LMSR) Medium-speed Roll-on/Roll-off ship.
Display
 Watson's Medal of Honor is displayed at the U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum in Fort Lee, Virginia. A model of USNS Watson (T-AKR-310) named in his honor was donated to the museum by the builder, National Steel and Shipbuilding Company.
References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - George Watson
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - George Watson
FindAGrave -
George Watson (photo, tablets of the missing photo)
The Private War of the Spotters (1990) page 143
"Aboard were 11 Australians and a number of American Negro soldiers... Among the Australians aboard were three members of the spotters' unit, Jack Barclay and the two already mentioned [Ted Cosstick and Bill Churcher]."
The George Watson Saga"(1997) by James E. Guilford
"Their airplanes appeared suddenly on the scene in a 'V' formation. Several bombs were dropped on our freighter in that pattern. Without any warning the bombs hit their mark. One bomb went down front hatch and another bomb went down the smokestack and exploded everywhere. The Malaysian sailors were screaming and bleeding. There was panic and pandemonium. Watson and I were on topside at the stern relaxing in the sun. We both didn't know how badly the ship had been damaged. We saw the Dutch Captain standing up in a life boat. He was yelling orders, while lowering himself and part of his crew into the ocean. Watson did not put on a life jacket, but I hurriedly put one on. He was such a strong swimmer, he felt that he did not need one. Knowing that the ship was going to sink, the crew released all floatable materials, such as hatch covers, rafts and barrels for life saving aids... We were 14 miles from Oro Bay. Land was barely visible on the horizon. Watson knew that I could not swim... Watson and I jumped into the ocean towards the rope raft. As I jumped I held my breath. I went so far down in the water, I thought I would never come back to the surface. Watson was there to assist me to the raft... with his help and God's help, I did not take another breath until I reached the raft with my hands.
Later Watson was brining more soldiers in distress to the raft. I yelled at him to put some of the soldiers on some of the other floating material. That was the last time I saw George Watson alive. There was debris all over the ocean. The huge freighter had taken on a lot of water. Within minutes after the bombs hit the ship, it listed to starboard and rolled over. It pitched forward. Its bow dipped into the water. Then it took a vertical position and gradually disappeared into the ocean.
Within minutes everything was tranquil and peaceful again, as if nothing happened.
All of us, including Pvt George
Watson, were rescued by the Australian corvette, our escort. Watson had been pulled out of the ocean unconscious and exhausted. I knew nothing of his rescue or condition at this time. While the crew was trying to revive him, they kept what happened to me. When the found out he could not be revived, they finally told me. George Watson was buried at sea with full military honors. I was amazed at the number of soldiers he helped and saved, before he succumbed himself from exhaustion. Even the white Lieutenant, who was in charge of our detail related how George Watson rescued him."
After The Battle Issue No. 96 United States - Medals of Honor Awarded - 50 Years After - President Bill Clinton decorates seven black soldiers in January 1997 for deeds carried out during the Second World War
Honor Deferred (2006) profiles George Watson and the s'Jacob
Quartermaster Museum - This Week In Quartermaster History
4-10 March
Quartermaster Museum - Private George Watson
ABMC Black History Month - Saving oneself or saving others: Pvt. George Watson Feb 18, 2022
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