Global InformationEmil Lewis Holmdahl information
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (March 2023) |
Emil Holmdahl | |
|---|---|
 Emil Holmdahl and his pet dog during the campaign against Zapata. c 1913 | |
| Birth name | Emil Lewis Holmdahl |
| Nickname(s) | Lewis |
| Born | August 26, 1883 Fort Dodge, Iowa, US |
| Died | April 8, 1963 (aged 79) Van Nuys, California, US |
| Buried | Forest Lawn Memorial Park |
| Allegiance |  United States Qing dynasty Honduras Mexico Republic of the Rif MagonistasFederales Porfiristas Maderistas Carrancistas Constitutionalists Conventionalists Villistas Druze |
| Service/ | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1898 – 1920 |
| Rank |  Captain (US) Colonel (Mexico)  Ensign (China) |
| Unit | 51st Iowa Volunteer Regiment Royal Imperial Guards, Sinim Order of Dragoons (China) 20th Infantry Regiment 5th Cavalry Regiment (Mexico) 16th Engineer Regiment (Railway) |
| Battles/wars | See battles
|
| Awards | Legion of Honor (Mexico) Spanish Campaign Medal Philippine Campaign Medal Philippine Congressional Medal Mexican Service Medal World War I Victory Medal |
| Spouse(s) | Ann (m. 1929, divorced 1930) Elizabeth Ellamanda Moyer (m. 1928, died 1957) |
| Other work | Spy Gun Running |
Emil Lugwig "Lewis" Holmdahl (August 26, 1883 – April 8, 1963) was an American soldier of fortune, infantryman, machine gunner, spy, gun runner, and treasure hunter who fought under Frederick Funston and John J. Pershing in the Spanish–American War and subsequent Philippine–American War (Philippine Insurrection), under Lee Christmas in Central America, under Francisco Madero, Pancho Villa, and Venustiano Carranza in the Mexican Revolution, and under John J. Pershing again in World War I. In 1926, Holmdahl was accused of having stolen Francisco "Pancho" Villa's head.