FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Maj Louis Cukela ~ 22 January 2024

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

MAJ Louis Cukela

Info from this website.

           

Born at Sabenes, Austria, on May 1, 1888, he is a double recipient of the Medal of Honor, one by the Army and one by the Navy for the same action in World War I.

He was serving at the time as Sergeant, 66th Company, 5th Marine Regiment at Villers-Cotterets, France.

He was the last double receipient of the Medal of Honor to die when he passed away at the Naval Medical Center at Bethesda, Maryland, on March 19. 1956. He was buried in Section 1 of Arlington National Cemetery. His wife, Minnie Strayer Cukela, who died on August 10, 1956, is buried with him.

Major Louis Cukela, who was awarded both the Navy and Army Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism in France during World War I, was a native of Croatia. The same act of heroism also brought decorations from France, Italy, and his native Yugoslavia.

Louis Cukela was born at Spalato, Crotia, on May 1, 1888, son of George and Johana (Bubrich) Cukela. The major was educated in the grade schools of Spalato, then attended the Merchant Academy and later, the Royal Gymnasium, both for two year courses. His mother died in 1900. In 1913 Major Cukela emigrated to the United States and he and his brother settled in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His father and three sisters remained in Serbia.

On September 21, 1914, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was serving as a corporal in Company H, 13th Infantry when he was honorably discharged on June 12, 1916.

Seven months later, on January 31, 1917, with war raging in Europe from a spark touched off in the major's native Serbia, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. Following the United States' entry into the conflict, he went to France and took part in all the engagements in which the 5th Marines fought.

He was awarded both Medals of Honor for the same action near Villers-Cotterets, France, on the morning of July 18, 1918, during the Soissons engagement. The 66th Company, 5th Marines, in which Major Cukela was a gunnery sergeant, was advancing through the Forest de Retz when it was held up by an enemy strong point. Despite the warnings of his men, the gunnery sergeant crawled out from the flank and advanced alone towards the German lines. Getting beyond the strong point despite heavy fire, "Gunny" Cukela captured one gun by bayoneting its crew. Picking up their hand grenades, he then demolished the remaining portion of the strong point from the shelter of a nearby gun pit. The Marine took four prisoners and captured two undamaged machine guns.

The famous Marine was wounded in action twice but since there is no record of either wound at the Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, he was never awarded the Purple Heart. The first wound was suffered at Jaulny, France, on September 16, 1918 during the St. Mihiel engagement. Major Cukela was wounded again during the fighting in the Champagne sector. Neither wound was serious.

In addition to the two Medals of Honor, Major Cukela was awarded the Silver Star by the Army; the Medaille Militaire (he was the first Marine officer ever to receive this medal), the Legion d'Honneur in the rank of Chevalier, the Croix de Guerre with two palms, another Croix de Guerre with silver star, all by France; the Croce al Merito di Guerra by Italy; and Commander's Cross of the Royal Order of the Crown of Yugoslavia. He also received three Second Division citations.

Major Cukela received a field appointment to the rank of second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve on September 26, 1918 and was selected for a commission in the regular Marine Corps on March 31, 1919. Promoted to first lieutenant on July 17, 1919, he was advanced to the rank of captain on September 15, 1921. His promotion to major was effected on the day of his retirement, June 30, 1940.

After the war, Major Cukela served at overseas bases in Haiti, Santo Domingo, the Philippines, and China, and at domestic stations in Quantico, Virginia; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Norfolk, Virginia; Hampton Roads, Virginia; Mare Island, California; Washington, D.C.; Nashville, Indiana, and Fort Knox, Kentucky.

From June, 1933 to January, 1934, the major served as a company commander with the Civilian Conservation Corps. His last years in the Marine Corps were spent at Norfolk, where he served as the post quartermaster. Retired as a major on June 30, 1940, he was recalled to active duty on July 30 of the same year. During World War II the major served at Norfolk and Philadelphia. He finally returned to the inactive retired list on May 17, 1946. Major Cukela served a few days less than 32 years of active duty in the Army and Marines.

The Marine hero was married to Minnie Myrtle Strayer of Miflintown, Pennsylvania, at Washington, D.C., on December 22, 1923. On March 19, 1956, Major Cukela died at the U.S. Naval Hospital, Bethesda, Maryland. Following services at St. Jane Frances de Chantel Church, Bethesda, he was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery, March 22, 1956. Mrs. Cukela died August 10, 1956.

At the time of his death, Major Cukela was survived by a sister, Mrs. Zorka Cukela Dvoracek, of Sibenik, Crotia.

Major Cukela had the following decorations and medals; Medal of Honor (Navy); Medal of Honor (Army); Silver Star; Victory Medal with Aisne, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, and Defensive Sector clasps and three silver stars; Haitian Campaign Medal, Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal with one star; Yangtze Service Medal; American Defense Service Medal; American Area Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; Medaille Militaire; Legion d'Honneur; two Croix de Guerre with two palms; Croix de Guerre with Silver Star; Croce al Merito di Guerra; Commander's Cross of the Royal Order of the Crown of Yugoslavia; and the French Fourragere.

CUKELA, LOUIS (Army Medal)

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, 66th Company, 5th Regiment. Place and date: Near Villers-Cotterets, France, 18 July 1918. Entered service at: Minneapolis, Minnesota. Born: 1 May 1888, Sebenes, Austria. G.O. No.: 34, W.D., 1919. (Also received Navy Medal of Honor.)

Citation:

When his company, advancing through a wood, met with strong resistance from an enemy strong point, Sgt. Cukela crawled out from the flank and made his way toward the German lines in the face of heavy fire, disregarding the warnings of his comrades. He succeeded in getting behind the enemy position and rushed a machinegun emplacement, killing or driving off the crew with his bayonet. With German handgrenades he then bombed out the remaining portion of the strong point, capturing 4 men and 2 damaged machineguns.

---

CUKELA, LOUIS (Navy Medal)

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, 66th Company, 5th Regiment. Born: 1 May 1888, Sebenes, Austria. Accredited to: Minnesota. (Also received Army Medal of Honor.)

Citation:

For extraordinary heroism while serving with the 66th Company, 5th Regiment, during action in the Forest de Retz, near Viller-Cottertes, France, 18 July 1918. Sgt. Cukela advanced alone against an enemy strong point that was holding up his line. Disregarding the warnings of his comrades, he crawled out from the flank in the face of heavy fire and worked his way to the rear of the enemy position. Rushing a machinegun emplacement, he killed or drove off the crew with his bayonet, bombed out the remaining part of the strong point with German handgrenades and captured 2 machineguns and 4 men.

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission!

[PROCON]

Thanks for tonight's Canteen and for honoring our Brave Hero, Kathy!

Son's over for dinner, see ya later.

[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

[Kathy in Alaska]

Enjoy your time with your son...happy dining.

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

THANK YOU
for your service!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...is the ice gone? Snow? Rain?

It is at least above zero here right now. Stay warm and safe with Tippy.

[left that other site]

The ice is everywhere, but it has “ripened” to the point where it isn’t slippery anymore.

Now I know why my Inuit Ancestors had so many words for “SNOW”.

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: Maj Louis Cukela ~

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[HartleyMBaldwin]

A remarkable individual, not least for having been born in two places on the same day.

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

What a distinguished military career Maj. Cukela had along with being a real hero.

I hope you’ve managed to get a lot done today so you can relax a little tomorrow.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu...hope your ice situation is starting to back off.

It’s time for warmer weather for you.

[Kathy in Alaska]

There will be NO slipping and falling or twisting of knees.

[The Mayor]

anuary 22

The Right Focus

Bible in a Year :

• Exodus 4–6
• Matthew 14:22–36

Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

Luke 10:20 We’d known Kha for more than a year. He was part of our small group from church that met weekly to discuss what we’d been learning about God. One evening during our regular meeting, he made a reference to having competed at the Olympics. The mention was so casual that it almost escaped my notice. Almost. Lo and behold, I learned I knew an Olympian who had competed in the bronze medal match! I couldn’t fathom that he’d not mentioned it before, but for Kha, while his athletic achievement was a special part of his story, more important things were central to his identity: his family, his community, and his faith.

The story in Luke 10:1–23 describes what should be central to our identity. When the seventy-two people Jesus sent out to tell others about the kingdom of God returned from their journeys, they reported to Him that “even the demons submit to us in your name” (v. 17). While Jesus acknowledged that He’d equipped them with tremendous power and protection, He said they were focused on the wrong thing. He insisted that their cause for rejoicing should be because their “names are written in heaven” (v. 20).

Whatever achievements or abilities God has granted us, our greatest cause for rejoicing is that if we’ve entrusted ourselves to Jesus, our names are written in heaven, and we enjoy His daily presence in our lives. .

Reflect & Pray

What are you focused on? How can you shift your focus to more of an eternal perspective?

Heavenly Father, thank You for writing my name in heaven. I rejoice in knowing You.

Learn more about having a personal relationship with God.

[radu]

Hey there, Kathy.

Yes, it warmed up a little and a lot of melting occurred. There’s still snow out there but not as much. Tomorrow will be a lot warmer and that should take care of most of it. Shady spots will take a little longer.

[radu]

It just dawned on me you won’t do and relaxing tomorrow. I don’t know what day it is, having been cooped up all week. LOL I thought today was Saturday for whatever reason.

So I hope you managed to find some time to relax TODAY.

[Kathy in Alaska]

OK...here we go. The info posted came from Arlington National Cemetery

And then this from Wikipedia

Louis Cukela was born on May 1, 1888, in the Dalmatian city of Split (or Dubrovnik), today's Croatia (at the time Kingdom of Dalmatia, Austro-Hungarian Empire) to George and Johana (Bubrich) Cukela. His mother died in 1900. He was educated in the grade schools of Split, then attended the Merchant Academy and later, the Royal Gymnasium, both for two year courses. In 1913, Cukela emigrated to the United States and he and his brother settled in Minneapolis, Minnesota; his father and three sisters remained in Austria-Hungary.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Pro!!

1st!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

ML!!

2nd!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

radu!!

3rd!!

[lapsus calami]