Boatswain George R. Willis

George was born in Bangor, ME around 1840. His birth was recorded in Boston, MA on December 20, 1840. All of his military records indicate Maine as his birthplace. I have been unable to find any information about his early life.

Shortly after the US Civil War George enlisted in the US Navy. He was described as being 5’10” with blue eyes, light brown hair, and a fair complexion. He served on several ships, serving the longest aboard the USS Wachusett. In the summer and early fall of 1873 Boatswain Wliis served aboard the chartered USS Tigress, which was searching for a missing research vessel named Polaris. In the night of September 22, 1873 the Tigress was in danger of sinking during a gale off the coast of Greenland. He single-handedly furled a loose topgallant sail, and saved the ship. For this service he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Boatswain Willis served for almost another decade before being granted a medical discharge. He had a stroke on August 27, 1881 after suffering from exposure off the coast of Alaska in the course of his service. While he recovered most of his physical abilities, he suffered bouts of dizziness, confusion, and general paralysis and was discharged in 1883. He died at the Lunatic Hospital in Worcester, MA on December 7, 1884 from paralysis.

George is buried in the Newcomb lot at Oak Grove Cemetery in Medford, MA, which leads me to believe that the Adeline M. Newcomb (1838-1909) interred there is his sister. Her husband is buried in the GAR lot nearby. He has for his grave marker a beautifully ornate tree stump gravestone, complete with flowers, foliage, and an anchor.