Col. Louis Joseph Van Schaick, MOH

Louis Joseph Van Schaick was an officer in the United States Army and a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in the Philippine-American War. He graduated from West Point in 1900. Pronounced "Van Scoik", he went on to fight with General John J. Pershing in pursuit of Pancho Villa, and was part of the 1st expeditionary force sent to France (as a lieutenant colonel), again with General Pershing. He was retired for disability in August 1934 with the rank of colonel. He was later imprisoned during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines.

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Louis Joseph Van Schaick, United States Army, for most distinguished gallantry on 23 November 1901, while serving with 4th Cavalry, in action at Nasugbu, Batangas, Philippine Islands. While in pursuit of a band of insurgents, First Lieutenant Van Shaick was the first of his detachment to emerge from a canyon, and seeing a column of insurgents and fearing they might turn and dispatch his men as they emerged one by one from the canyon, galloped forward and closed with the insurgents, thereby throwing them into confusion until the arrival of others of the detachment.

General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 33 (1913)

Action Date: 23-Nov-01

Service: Army

Rank: First Lieutenant

Regiment: 4th Cavalry

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Louis Joseph Van Schaick (pronounced "Van Scoik") was an officer in the United States Army and a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in the Philippine-American War.

Van Schaick attended West Point as a member of the 1900 class, but left one year before graduating to join the army. While serving in the Philippines, he held the governorships of Cavite (1905-1907) and Mindoro (1908-1912).

He later went on to fight with General John J. Pershing in pursuit of Pancho Villa, and was part of the 1st expeditionary force sent to France (as a lieutenant colonel), again with General Pershing. He was retired for disability in August 1934 with the rank of colonel. He was later imprisoned during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, and died shortly after his release.

Contents [show] Medal of Honor citation[edit] Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, 4th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: Near Nasugbu, Batangas, Philippine Islands, November 23, 1901. Entered service at: Cobleskill, N.Y. Birth: Cobleskill, N.Y. G.O. No.: 33, 1913. Date of issue: Unknown.

Citation:

While in pursuit of a band of insurgents was the first of his detachment to emerge from a canyon, and seeing a column of insurgents and fearing they might turn and dispatch his men as they emerged one by one from the canyon, galloped forward and closed with the insurgents, thereby throwing them into confusion until the arrival of others of the detachment.