Ludovicus Maria Matheus Van Iersel

Sergeant, U.S. Army

Medal of Honor Recipient

World War I

Sergeant Ludovicus Maria Matheus Van Iersel (19 October 1893 - 9 June 1987) was a U.S. Army soldier who received the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions during World War I.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company M, 9th Infantry, 2nd Division.

Place and date: At Mouzon, France, 9 November 1918.

Citation: While a member of the 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 machinegun 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 away 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 where he reported this valuable information to the battalion commander.

Death and Burial

Sergeant Ludovicus Maria Matheus Van Iersel died on 9 June 1987. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, in Section 42, Lot 1770.