Korean War Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award posthumously (presented to his father) from United States Secretary of the Navy Robert T. Stevens at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., on March 10, 1954, for his actions as a Private First Class with Company C, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, U.S. Army, on November 30, 1952, at Songnae-dong, Korea.

A descendant of the Native American Cherokee tribe, he joined the United States Army in 1952, and, following his recruit and combat training, he was assigned to Korea. On that day, he was fatally wounded when he threw himself on a live enemy grenade to protect the other soldiers in his company. He was also awarded the Purple Heart. The Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center in Asheville, North Carolina, is named the Charles George VA Medical Center in honor, and a bronze statue of his likeness was unveiled in front of the facility on September 24, 2016.

His Medal of Honor citation reads: "PFC George, a member of Company C, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy on the night of 30 November 1952. He was a member of a raiding party committed to engage the enemy and capture a prisoner for interrogation. Forging up the rugged slope of the key terrain feature, the group was subjected to intense mortar and machine-gun fire and suffered several casualties. Throughout the advance, he fought valiantly, and, upon reaching the crest of the hill, leaped into the trenches and closed with the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. When friendly troops were ordered to move back upon completion of the assignment, he and two comrades remained to cover the withdrawal. While in the process of leaving the trenches, a hostile soldier hurled a grenade into their midst. PFC George shouted a warning to one comrade, pushed the other soldier out of danger, and, with full knowledge of the consequences, unhesitatingly threw himself upon the grenade, absorbing the full blast of the explosion. Although seriously wounded in this display of valor, he refrained from any outcry which would divulge the position of his companions. The two soldiers evacuated him to the forward aid station and shortly thereafter he succumbed to his wound. PFC George's indomitable courage, consummate devotion to duty, and willing self-sacrifice reflect the highest credit upon himself and uphold the finest traditions of the military service."