PIKE, EMORY J. - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, Division Machinegun
Officer, 82d Division. Place and date: Near Vandieres, France, 15 September
1918. Entered service at: Des Moines, lowa. Birth: Columbia City, lowa.
G.O. No.: 16, W.D., 1919. Citation: Having gone forward to reconnoiter
new machinegun positions, Lt. Col. Pike offered his assistance in reorganizing
advance infantry units which had become disorganized during a heavy artillery
shelling. He succeeded in locating only about 20 men, but with these he
advanced and when later joined by several infantry platoons rendered inestimable
service in establishing outposts, encouraging all by his cheeriness, in
spite of the extreme danger of the situation. When a shell had wounded
one of the men in the outpost, Lt. Col. Pike immediately went to his aid
and was severely wounded himself when another shell burst in the same place.
While waiting to be brought to the rear, Lt. Col. Pike continued in command,
still retaining his jovial manner of encouragement, directing the reorganization
until the position could be held. The entire operation was carried on under
terrific bombardment, and the example of courage and devotion to duty,
as set by Lt. Col. Pike, established the highest standard of morale and
confidence to all under his charge. The wounds he received were the cause
of his death.
This data was extracted from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973)
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