George Christel was born on April 21, 1918, in New Jersey. He was inducted into the U.S. Army on February 5, 1941, and after completing basic training and advanced infantry training, he served with Company I, 165th Infantry Regiment of the 27th Infantry Division at Fort McCllelan, Alabama, from October 1941 to March 1942, and then in the Pacific Theater from March 1942 until he was killed in action on Okinawa on April 30, 1945. During this time, Sgt Christel served with his unit in Hawaii from April 1942 to November 1943, during combat in the Makin Atoll from November to December 1943, back in Hawaii from December 1943 to May 1944, during combat in Saipan from June to September 1944, at Espiritu Santo from September 1944 to March 1945, and in combat on Okinawa from April 9, 1945, until he was killed in action on April 30. He was originally buried in the 27th Infantry Division Cemetery on Okinawa, but was reinterred at the Saint Gertrudes Roman Catholic Cemetery in Colonia, New Jersey, in 1949.

His 2nd (of 3) Bronze Star Medal w/Valor Citation reads:

For heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy at Okinawa Shima, Nansei Shoto, on 25 April 1945. Sergeant Christel led a rifle platoon attacking a high well-defended ridge held by Japanese hidden in caves. Enemy machine gun, mortar and sniper fire impeded the advance of his company. Sergeant Christel maneuvered his platoon through the heavy concentration of enemy fire to within 200 yards of the foe, while the Japanese directed the majority of their fire against the platoon. This enabled the remainder of the company to advance. One Japanese machine gun in particular inflicted heavy casualties upon his platoon. Abandoning the slight concealment he had, in view of the enemy, he moved through open terrain into the withering cross fire. This he did voluntarily, knowing the hostile positions must be attacked and destroyed. While trying desperately to discover a better route of approach, he was constantly exposed to small arms fire. By his courageous action Sergeant Christel furthered the advance of his platoon a total of two hundred yards and was responsible for the continuation of his company's advancement.