Lieutenant Niels Drustrup was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 21, 1914 in Vera Cruz, Mexico during the 1914 Veracruz expedition. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Utah. Drustrup was 37 years old.
40 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on 1924, 10 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Drustrup was born on October 17, 1876 in Denmark — one of 11 recipients born in Denmark. His Medal of Honor is credited to Pennsylvania. Drustrup died on March 15, 1957, at the age of 80. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Drustrup is one of 56 Medal of Honor recipients from the 1914 Veracruz expedition and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For meritorious service under fire on the occasion of the landing of the naval forces at Vera Cruz, Mexico, 21 April 1914. For several hours Lt. Drustrup was in charge of an advanced barricade under a heavy fire, and not only displayed utmost ability as a leader of men but also exerted a great steadying influence on the men around him. Lt. Drustrup was then attached to the U.S.S. Utah as a chief turret captain.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War I, Mexican Revolution, Spanish–American War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →
Timeline
- October 17, 1876Born in Denmark
- April 21, 1914Act of valor — Vera Cruz, MexicoAge 37. U.S.S. Utah
- 1924Medal of Honor presented
- March 15, 1957DiedAge 80.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
Niels Drustrup (October 17, 1876 – March 15, 1957) was an officer in the United States Navy and a Medal of Honor recipient for his role in the United States occupation of Veracruz.
From the Wikipedia article “Niels Drustrup”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
