Julien Edmund Victor Gaujot

Colonel, U.S. Army

Medal of Honor Recipient

Occupation of Veracruz

Colonel Julien Edmond Victor Gaujot (22 October 1874 - 7 April 1938) was a U.S. Army officer who received the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions during the Occupation of Veracruz. His brother, Antoine, also received the Medal of Honor but in a different war. The Gaujot brothers are two of the eight sets of brothers who 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.

Julien Edmond Victor Gaujot was born on 22 October 1874 in Eagle Harbor Township, MI. His father was a French-born mining engineer when he emigrated to Tamaqua, PA. 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, VA. 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, WV. 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's brother, Antoine Gaujot, received the Medal of Honor for actions on 19 December 1899 as a U.S. 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 13 April 1911. He is the only soldier ever awarded the Medal for actions of a peacekeeping nature. In Douglas, AZ, 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 U.S. 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 23 November 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 U.S. Army from 1897 to 1934 and participated in five major engagements: the Spanish-American War, Philippine-American War, Cuban Pacification, Mexican Border, and World War I.

Julien served as 1st Lieutenant, 2nd Squadron, F Co., 10th U.S. Cavalry (one of the Buffalo Soldiers regiments), during their time in the Philippines. He retired from the Regular Army in 1934 with the rank of Colonel.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, Troop K, 1st U.S. Cavalry

Place and date: Aqua Prieta, Mexico, 13 April 1911

Citation: 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 5 Americans held as prisoners, to the American line.

Medals and Awards

In addition to the Medal of Honor, he received two bronze leaves on his service ribbon for action in two major World War I offensives.

Death and Burial

Colonel Julien Edmond Victor Gaujot died on 7 April 1938 in Williamson, WV. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, in Section 6, Lot 8423-NH, Map Grid V/W 22.5.