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TAPS
Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky,
Gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.
Then good night, Peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn
Shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, good night. |
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BORN:
June 06, 1867 at Lowell, MA
Entered Service in the US
Navy from Lowell, MA
Earned
The Medal of Honor During the Spanish-American War For heroism
on June 03, 1898 at Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
DIED: February
07, 1938 at the age of 70
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After chasing
the Fleet of Pascual Cerveza for months, Rear Admiral Sampson
located the Spanish ships on May 28, in Santiago Harbor. Approach
would require American vessels to pass through a dangerous, narrow
and mined channel well protected by shore batteries. Unable to
attack with his own ships, Sampson chose to blockade the channel
and trap the enemy fleet. On the night June 6 George Charette was
1 of 7 volunteers who, under the leadership of Richmond Hobson,
guided the old collier Merrimac beneath the enemy guns in an
attempt to scuttle the 333-foot vessel in the channel. Within 500
feet of the mouth of the channel the Merrimac came under enemy
fire. Despite this, and in spite of numerous direct hits on the
ship, the vessel continued ahead. When the steering gear was
disabled by enemy fire, momentum carried the Merrimack further
towards its goal, but the charges set to destroy it were damaged.
Finally the ship drifted to the shoreline, Hobson's men leaving
the destroyed ship to cling through the night to a small buoy.
Admiral Cerveza personally supervised the launch that captured
them the following day, greeting his enemies with one word--"VALIANTE!"
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