Julien Edmund Victor Gaujot

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Julien Edmund Victor Gaujot
October 22, 1874(1874-10-22) – April 7, 1938 (aged 63)

Place of birth	Eagle Harbor, Keweenaw County, Michigan
Place of death	Williamson, West Virginia
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1897-1934
Rank	Colonel at retirement
Unit	Troop K, 1st U.S. Cavalry
Battles/wars	Mexican Border Spanish-American War Philippine Insurrection Cuban Pacification World War I
Awards	Medal of Honor 23 November 1912
Other work	Firefighter

United States Army Portal

Julien Edmond Victor Gaujot, the brother of Antoine, was born on 22 October 1874 in Eagle Harbor Township, Michigan, United States.

The Gaujot brothers are two of the eight sets of brothers awarded 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.

1 Early life and school
2 Military career
3 Honors and awards
4 Medal of Honor citation
5 Death
6 See also
7 Notes
8 References

[edit] Early life and school

Julien Edmond Victor Gaujot was born 22 October 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.

[edit] Military career

Julien's brother, Antoine Gaujot, received the Medal of Honor for actions on 19 December 1899 as a United States Army corporal at the Battle of Paye near Mateo during the Philippine Insurrection. 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, 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 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 United States Army from 1897 to 1934 and participated in five major engagements: the Spanish-American War, Philippine Insurrection, Cuban Pacification, Mexican Border, and World War I.

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

[edit] Honors 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.

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Captain, Troop K, 1st U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Agua Prieta, Mexico, 13 April 1911. Entered service at: Williamson, W. Va. Birth: Keweenaw, Mich. Date of issue: 23 November 1912.

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.^[1]

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

[edit] Death

Julien died in Williamson, West Virginia on 7 April 1938 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.^[2] His grave can be found in section 6, lot 8423-NH map grid V/W 22.5.^[2]