The late George J. Peters, 1924-1945, a native of Cranston, was one of only three Rhode Islanders to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for gallantry in action during World War II. The young U.S. Army Infantryman parachuted across the Rhine River and sacrificed his life while single-handedly destroying a German machine-gun nest to save his comrades. In recognition of his heroism, West View School in Cranston was re-dedicated in his honor, the intersection of Phenix and Atwood Avenues in that City is named in his memory, and a U.S. Naval Ship bears his name.