Ludovicus M. M. Van Iersel

Who was Ludovicus M. M. Van Iersel?

Ludovicus Maria Matheus Van Iersel was a Sergeant in United States Army, Company M, 9th Infantry, 2d Division during World War I. He earned the highest military decoration for valor in combat—the Medal of Honor—for having distinguished himself at Mouzon, France.

Born in Dussen the Netherlands, Van Iersel served on several merchant ships following the outbreak of the war. Van Iersel arrived in New Jersey in early 1917, enlisting in the army shortly afterwards. He learned English in his first few months of military service.

He became a naturalised American citizen in September 1919, six months after receiving the Medal of Honor, and changed his name to Louis Van Iersel. After acquiring citizenship he returned to his birth country and married with Hendrika de Ronde in August 1920. They returned to the United States later that month and settled in California a year later.

During World War II, he joined the Marine Corps and served with the 3rd Marine Division in the Bougainville Campaign.