Sergeant Ludovicus M.m van Iersel was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on November 9, 1918 in Mouzon, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with Company M, 9th Infantry, 2d Division. van Iersel was 25 years old.
2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on 1919.
van Iersel was born on October 19, 1893 in Dussen, Holland (The Netherlands) — one of 6 recipients born in Netherlands. His Medal of Honor is credited to Glen Rock, Bergen County, New Jersey. van Iersel died on June 9, 1987 in Roseburg, Oregon, at the age of 93. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Records also list him as Changed name to: Van Iersel, Louis M.M..
van Iersel is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 93 credited to New Jersey.
Official Medal of Honor citation
While a member of a reconnaissance patrol, sent out at night to ascertain the condition of a damaged bridge, Sgt. Van Iersel volunteered to lead a party across the bridge in the face of heavy machine-gun and rifle fire from a range of only 75 yards. Crawling alone along the debris of the ruined bridge, he came upon a trap, which gave way and precipitated him into the water. In spite of the swift current he succeeded in swimming across the stream and found a lodging place among the timbers on the opposite bank. Disregarding the enemy fire, he made a careful investigation of the hostile position by which the bridge was defended and then returned to the other bank of the river, reporting this valuable information to the battalion commander.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War I, World War II.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New Jersey →
Timeline
- October 19, 1893Born in Dussen, Holland (The Netherlands)
- November 9, 1918Act of valor — Mouzon, FranceAge 25. Company M, 9th Infantry, 2d Division
- 1919Medal of Honor presented
- June 9, 1987Died in Roseburg, OregonAge 93.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
Ludovicus Maria Matheus Van Iersel (19 October 1893 – 9 June 1987) was a Sergeant in United States Army, Company M, 9th Infantry, 2nd Division during World War I. He earned the highest military decoration for valor in combat—the Medal of Honor—for having distinguished himself at Mouzon, France. Born in Dussen in the Netherlands, Van Iersel served on several merchant ships following the outbreak of the war. Van Iersel arrived in New Jersey in early 1917, enlisting in the army shortly afterwards. He learned English in his first few months of military service.
From the Wikipedia article “Louis Van Iersel”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
