b. 22/10/1874 Eagle Harbour, Michigan. d. 07/04/1938 Williamson, West Virginia.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 13/04/1911 Aqua Prieta, Mexico.
Julien E V Gaujot MOH
Julien Edmond Victor Gaujot was born October 22, 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.
Julien Gaujot joined the Army in May 1898 as a Captain of volunteers. He was commissioned as a First Lieutenant of the 10th Cavalry Regiment (a Buffalo Soldier regiment) in February 1901.
Julien’s brother, Antoine Gaujot, received the Medal of Honor for actions on December 19, 1899 as a United States 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 April 13, 1911. He is the only soldier ever awarded the Medal for actions of a peacekeeping nature.
MOH CITATION:
For extraordinary heroism in action on 13 April 1911, while serving with Troop K, 1st U.S. Cavalry, in action at Aqua Prieta, Mexico. Captain Gaujot 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 five Americans held as prisoners, to the American line.
BURIAL LOCATION: ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA.
SECTION 6, LOT 8423
LOCATION OF MEDAL: BELIEVED TO BE FAMILY.
