(1888-05-01)May 1, 1888 Split or Dubrovnik, Kingdom of Dalmatia, Austria-Hungary
Died
March 19, 1956(1956-03-19) (aged 67) Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.
Place of burial
Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance
United States of America
Service/branch
United States Army United States Marine Corps
Years of service
1914–1916 (US Army) 1917–1946 (USMC)
Rank
Corporal (Army) Major (Marine Corps)
Unit
5th Marines
Battles/wars
World War I
Battle of Belleau Wood
Battle of Soissons (1918)
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
World War II
Awards
Medal of Honor (2) Silver Star (3) Légion d'honneur (Chevalier) Order of the Yugoslav Crown (Cmdr.) Médaille militaire Croix de guerre (2 palms, silver star) War Merit Cross
Louis Cukela (May 1, 1888 – March 19, 1956) was a Croatian American United States Marine numbered among the nineteen two-time recipients of the Medal of Honor. Cukela was awarded the Medal by both the US Army and the US Navy[1] for the same action during the Battle of Soissons in World War I. He was also awarded decorations from France, Italy, and Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
Famous for his broken English, best exemplified by his unforgettable saying, "If I want[ed] to send a goddamned fool, I'd go myself" (when a messenger came back with a stupid garbled reply).[2][3]
^Military times double MOH recipient
^George W. Hamilton, USMC: America's Greatest World War I Hero by Mark Mortensen, McFarland, Jun 30, 2011 p. 165
^From Belleau Wood to Bougainville: The Oral History of Major General Robert Blake USMC and The Travel Journal of Rosselet Wallace Blake by Robert Wallace Blake, Author House, Oct 1, 2004, p. 63
LouisCukela (May 1, 1888 – March 19, 1956) was a Croatian American United States Marine numbered among the nineteen two-time recipients of the Medal of...
awards) John Thomas Corley (eight awards) Alan "Ace" Cozzalio (two awards) LouisCukela William J. Cullerton Roy M. Davenport Juan César Cordero Dávila Benjamin...
attack of the 26th Division, A.E.F, at Chateau-Thierry in July 1918 LouisCukela (1888–1956), US Marine Corps Major, awarded two Medals of Honor for same...
Corps Major Veracruz, Haiti John Cooper Navy Coxswain American Civil War LouisCukela Marine Corps Sergeant World War I Awarded both Navy and Army versions...
awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during the war. Sergeant LouisCukela, Gunnery Sergeant Ernest A. Janson, and Sergeant Matej Kocak each received...
testified in Congress regarding a plot to overthrow the government LouisCukela – awarded both Navy and Army Medals of Honor Daniel Daly – awarded two...
great-grandparents were Croatian immigrants. Norman Cota, United States Army general LouisCukela, United States Marine, two-time Medal of Honor recipient Jakša Cvitanić...
– Born in China. Became a U.S. citizen after joining the U.S. navy. LouisCukela Florent Groberg – Born in France. Became a U.S. citizen in 2001. Khalifa...
overboard and rescued a man who was surrounded by boxes of explosives LouisCukela Marine Corps E-05Sergeant near Villers-Cotterêts, France Jul 18, 1918...
National Cemetery (Navy Lieutenant Commander John C. McCloy, Marine Major LouisCukela, and Marine Corporal John Henry Pruitt). Rank and organization: Captain...
photograph of the recipient wearing his Tiffany Cross. LouisCukela Marine Corps 18 July 1918 Yes Cukela single-handedly attacked and captured a German strongpoint...
events and human destinies, such as American heroes of Croatian origin LouisCukela and Petar Herceg Tomić or forgotten artists Drage Hauptfeld and Mijo...
before World War II (1939) Fedor von Bock before World War II (1939) LouisCukela (1888–1956) Dominik Mandić Milutin Milanković Sepp Janko Aleksandar Lazarević...
Nazi Germany Oberst (Austria) Generaloberst (Germany) World War II LouisCukela United States of America Major World War I World War II Soissons engagement...
presidential campaign Norman Cota – US Army Major General in World War II LouisCukela – double recipient of the Medal of Honor Albert A. Francovich – Navy...
Global Information
United States of America
United States Army
United States Marine Corps
Medal of Honor (2)
Silver Star (3)
Légion d'honneur (Chevalier)
Order of the Yugoslav Crown (Cmdr.)
Médaille militaire
Croix de guerre (2 palms, silver star)
War Merit Cross