TFH 11/9: The Final Three of the Great War

On November 9, 1918. The "Great War" - World War I - had just two days left to rage before the armistice that took effect at the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month. Fighting continued right up to the end, as did incredible acts of courage by our fighting men.

Three brave soldiers of the United States Army earned the Medal of Honor that day. They were the three final recipients for the First World War.

One of them was half-Mexican and used his American father's name so as not to be placed in a segregated unit that wouldn't be allowed into combat.

Another wasn't even an American yet, as he didn't become a naturalized citizen until 1919.

All three were heroes. They were Private David B. Barkley (Barkeley), Private First Class Harold I. Johnston, and Sergeant Ludovicus M. M. Van Iersel.


Details from Medal of Honor Citations from World War I.


*BARKELEY, DAVID B.

Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, Company A, 356th Infantry, 89th Division. Place and date: Near Pouilly, France, 9 November 1918. Entered service at: San Antonio, Tex. Birth: Laredo, Tex. G.O. No.: 20, W.D., 1919. Citation: When information was desired as to the enemy's position on the opposite side of the Meuse River, Pvt. Barkeley, with another soldier, volunteered without hesitation and swam the river to reconnoiter the exact location. He succeeded in reaching the opposite bank, despite the evident determination of the enemy to prevent a crossing. Having obtained his information, he again entered the water for his return, but before his goal was reached, he was seized with cramps and drowned.

He was born March 31, 1899 in Laredo, Texas and was 19 years old at his death. He rests in peace at the San Antonio National Cemetery in Texas.



JOHNSTON, HAROLD I.

Rank and organization: Sergeant (then Private First Class), U.S. Army, Company A, 356th Infantry, 89th Division. Place and date: Near Pouilly, France, 9 November 1918. Entered service at: Chicago, Ill. Birth: Kendell, Kans. C O. No.: 20, W.D., 1919. Citation: When information was desired as to the enemy's position on the opposite side of the Meuse River, Sgt. Johnston, with another soldier, volunteered without hesitation and swam the river to reconnoiter the exact location of the enemy. He succeeded in reaching the opposite bank, despite the evident determination of the enemy to prevent a crossing. Having obtained his information, he again entered the water for his return. This was accomplished after a severe struggle which so exhausted him that he had to be assisted from the water, after which he rendered his report of the exploit.

Johnston, the second soldier on the scouting mission that cost Barkeley his life, was later promoted to Sergeant as his citation indicates. He served our nation again during World War II in the Air Corps and lived until he was 57 years old, passing away on August 28, 1949.  Harold Johnston rests in peace in the Fairmont Cemetery of Denver, Colorado.



VAN IERSEL, LUDOVICUS M. M.

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

Van Iersel was born on October 19, 1893 in Dussen, the Netherlands. He was a merchant seaman who arrived in the United States in 1917 after the ship he was on was torpedoed by a German submarine (and was decorated by the British Empire for his courage during the sinking) and soon joined our Army. From 1942-1945 he went to war again for his adopted Nation, this time with the 3rd Marine Division in the Pacific. He passed away on July 9, 1987 in California at age 93 and rests with our most honored in Arlington National Cemetery.