Medal of Honor: Ludovicus M. M. Van Iersel – World War I – November 9, 1918
In the final days of the Great War, Sergeant Ludovicus M. M. Van Iersel braved gunfire and a shattered bridge, crawling through darkness across a deadly river to uncover the truth that turned the tide of battle.
November 7, 2025
Name: Ludovicus M. M. Van Iersel
Rank: Sergeant
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Company M, 9th Infantry, 2nd Division
Place and Date: Mouzon, France – 9 November 1918
Entered Service At: Glen Rock, New Jersey
Born: Holland
Accredited to: New Jersey
Summary of Action
On a cold night along the Meuse River, Sergeant Ludovicus Van Iersel — a Dutch-born immigrant fighting for his adopted country — volunteered for a mission few would dare attempt. The bridge at Mouzon lay shattered by artillery, its remains swept by relentless German machine-gun fire.
Van Iersel led a small reconnaissance party into the night to assess whether the bridge could support an advance. Crawling across the twisted wreckage under fire from just 75 yards away, he pressed forward alone to complete the task. Without warning, a hidden trap beneath him gave way, plunging him into the icy, fast-moving river below.
Fighting the current, Van Iersel swam through the darkness and hauled himself onto the far bank — directly beneath the guns of the enemy. From his precarious position, he studied the German defenses and confirmed their strength and placement. Then, still under heavy fire, he crossed the river again to deliver his report in person.
His actions that night provided crucial intelligence for the 2nd Division’s advance and exemplified the courage of a man who, having come to America seeking freedom, risked everything to defend it.
Medal of Honor Citation
Place and date: At Mouzon, France, 9 November 1918.
Entered service at: Glen Rock, N.J.
Birth: Holland.
G.O. No.: 34, W.D., 1919.
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, reporting this valuable information to the battalion commander.
