Also Known As: Changed name to: Van Iersel, Louis M.M.
Rank: Sergeant
Conflict/Era: World War I
Unit/Command: Company M, 9th Infantry, 2d Division
Military Service Branch: U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Action Date: November 9, 1918
Medal of Honor Action Place: Mouzon, France
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.
Medal of Honor Recipient Ludovicus M. van Iersel
Additional Details
Accredited to: Glen Rock, Bergen County, New Jersey
Awarded Posthumously: No
Presentation Date & Details: 1919 France, presented by Gen. John J. Pershing
Born: October 19, 1893, Dussen, Holland (The Netherlands)
Died: June 9, 1987, Roseburg, OR, United States
Buried: Arlington National Cemetery (MH) (42-1770), Arlington, VA, United States