Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Stories of Sacrifice
Mexican Campaign (Vera Cruz) - U.S. Navy
William Zuiderveld
- Rank: Hospital Apprentice First Class (Highest Rank: Lieutenant)
- Conflict/Era: Mexican Campaign (Vera Cruz)
- Unit/Command:
U.S.S. Florida - Military Service Branch: U.S. Navy
- Medal of Honor Action Date: April 21, 1914
- Medal of Honor Action Place: Vera Cruz, Mexico
On board the U.S.S. Florida, Zuiderveld showed extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession during the seizure of Vera Cruz, Mexico, 21 April 1914.
- Accredited to: Michigan
- Awarded Posthumously: No
- Presentation Date & Details: January 6, 1915
Presented by Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels on the deck of the USS Florida at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York.
- Born: January 24, 1888, MI, United States
- Died: February 5, 1978, San Diego, CA, United States
- Buried: Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery (MH) (A-1-9-13), San Diego, CA, United States
- Location of Medal: Michigan Heroes Museum, Frankenmuth, MI
Additional information on his action comes from U.S. Navy General Order No. 116, dated August 19, 1914, which records an after-action report by Rear Admiral F. F. Fletcher: "After the five volunteers from the first company, Florida Battalion, had advanced with me under heavy fire along the narrow alley between the customhouse and the open warehouse, and Schumacher was shot in the head, I called down the alley for the ambulance party. Zuiderveld, W., hosptial apprentence, first class, responded quickly, and advanced alone up the alley under a heavy fire to the postion occupied by the five volunteers. There kneeling an exposed position, and unaided, he bandaged up Schumacher's head, to stop the flow of blood, while a steady fire was being maintained against the Mexicans in the doorway of the Oriente Hotel." The five volunteers refered to in the account were George Cregan, Harry C. Beasley, Lawrence C. Sinnett, Joseph G. Harner, and J. F. Schumacker. All except for Schumacker received the Medal of Honor.
