Julien Edmund Victor Gaujot

Julien Edmund Victor Gaujot
A light blue neck ribbon with a gold star shaped medallion hanging from it. The ribbon is similar in shape to a bowtie with 13 white stars in the center of the ribbon.
COL Julien Edmund Victor Gaujot, Medal of Honor recipient
Born (1874-10-22)October 22, 1874
Eagle Harbor, Michigan
(Keweenaw County)
Died April 7, 1938(1938-04-07) (aged 63)
Williamson, West Virginia
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch  United States Army
Years of service 1898–1934
Rank Colonel
Unit Troop K, 1st U.S. Cavalry
Battles/wars Mexican Border
Spanish–American War
Philippine–American War
Cuban Pacification
World War I
Awards Medal of Honor
Relations Antoine A.M. Gaujot (brother)
Other work Firefighter

Julien Edmond Victor Gaujot (born on October 22, 1874 in Eagle Harbor Township, Michigan, United States, died in 1938 in Williamson, West Virginia) was an Army Medal of Honor recipient.

He was the brother of Antoine. The Gaujot brothers are one of the five sets of brothers that received the Medal of Honor and the only pair to receive the Medal for actions in different wars. Both brothers also attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Early life and school

Both Gaujot's names on the Virginia Tech's cenotaph.

Julien Edmond Victor Gaujot was born October 22, 1874 in Eagle Harbor, Michigan.

His father was a French-born mining engineer when he emigrated to Tamaqua, Pennsylvania. While there he met and married Susan Ellen McGuigan. The family eventually moved to Michigan and after that lived for a while in Ontario, Canada, before moving to Lynchburg, Virginia. In 1877 Julien's father, Ernest Gaujot, traveled to Japan to serve as general superintendent of mines.

In 1894, the family moved to what would become Mingo County, West Virginia.

In 1889 Julien enrolled in the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College (now Virginia Tech) but left in 1890 before graduating and worked as a civil engineer.

Military career

Julien Gaujot joined the Army in May 1898 as a Captain of volunteers. He was commissioned as a First Lieutenant of the 10th Cavalry Regiment (a Buffalo Soldier regiment) in February 1901.[1]

Julien's brother, Antoine Gaujot, received the Medal of Honor for actions on December 19, 1899 as a United States Army corporal at the Battle of Paye near Mateo during the Philippine–American War. Julien, a regular army officer, became obsessed with his brother's achievement. Referring to Antoine, Julien said "He wears it for a watch fob, the damn civilian, I got to get me one of them things for myself if I bust." Julien Gaujot received the medal for actions on the Mexican border on April 13, 1911. He is the only soldier ever awarded the Medal for actions of a peacekeeping nature. In Douglas, Arizona, stray bullets from fighting among Mexican rebels and government troops caused American casualties. Infuriated, Julien mounted his beloved horse "Old Dick", and rode across the border into the teeth of the battle. He moved between the two groups of belligerents for an hour under heavy fire, eventually securing the safe passage of the Mexican government soldiers and American prisoners over the border to the United States. His actions saved five Americans taken prisoner by the Mexicans, 25 Mexican government soldiers, an unrecorded number of Mexican rebels, and averted further danger to those on the U.S. side of the border.

General Leonard Wood later said in referring to the incident that Julien's action warranted "either a court martial or a Medal of Honor." That Medal was approved November 23, 1912 and awarded by President William Howard Taft at the White House the following month, in one of the earliest White House presentations of the Medal of Honor. Julien served in the United States Army from 1898 to 1934 and participated in five major engagements: the Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, Cuban Pacification, Mexican Border, and World War I.

He retired from the Regular Army in 1934 with the rank of colonel.

Military awards and other honors

President Taft presenting the Medal of Honor to Julien Gaujot in the White House, Dec 1912

COL Gaujot's awards include the Medal of Honor and two bronze leaves on his service ribbon for action in two major World War I offensives.

A light blue ribbon with five white five pointed stars Medal of Honor
Gold star
Gold star
 World War I Victory Medal
Army of Cuban Pacification Medal
Philippine Campaign Medal
Mexican Service Medal

Medal of Honor citation

General Orders: Date of Issue: November 23, 1912

"The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to

CAPTAIN (CAVALRY) JULIEN EDMUND GAUJOT

UNITED STATES ARMY

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For extraordinary heroism in action on 13 April 1911, while serving with Troop K, 1st U.S. Cavalry, in action at Aqua Prieta, Mexico. Captain Gaujot crossed the field of fire to obtain the permission of the rebel commander to receive the surrender of the surrounded forces of Mexican Federals and escort such forces, together with five Americans held as prisoners, to the American line.

/S/ WILLIAM H. TAFT"[2]

Death

Julien died in Williamson, West Virginia on April 7, 1938 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.[3] His grave can be found in section 6, lot 8423-NH map grid V/W 22.5.[3]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Historical Register and Dictionary of the US Army
  2. ↑ "Medal of Honor recipients". Mexican Campaign (Vera Cruz). United States Army Center of Military History. November 18, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Julien Edmund Victor Gaujot". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. Retrieved 2007-11-22.

References

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