George Willis (Medal Of Honor)
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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.


Biography

Willis enlisted in the Navy from his birth state of Massachusetts and served as a coxswain aboard the during the search for the missing exploration ship ''Polaris''. When an Arctic gale struck ''Tigress'' off the coast of Greenland on the night of September 22, 1873, Willis volunteered to single-handedly furl (lower, roll up and secure) the loose fore topgallant sail, an act which prevented damage to the ship. For his conduct on that occasion, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.


Medal of Honor citation

Coxswain Willis' official Medal of Honor citation reads simply:
Serving on board the U.S.S. ''Tigress'', Willis displayed gallant and meritorious conduct on the night of September 22, 1873 off the coast of Greenland.


See also

*
List of Medal of Honor recipients The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recipient must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their ...
* List of Medal of Honor recipients during Peacetime


Notes


References

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External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Willis, George 1840s births 1884 deaths United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients Military personnel from Boston United States Navy sailors Non-combat recipients of the Medal of Honor