Emory J. Pike’s Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to

LIEUTENANT COLONEL (INFANTRY)

EMORY JENISON PIKE

UNITED STATES ARMY

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Emory Jenison Pike, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 15 September 1918, while serving as Division Machine-Gun Officer, 82d Division, in action at Vandieres, France. Having gone forward to reconnoiter new machinegun positions, Lieutenant Colonel 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, Lieutenant Colonel 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, Lieutenant Colonel 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 Lieutenant Colonel Pike, established the highest standard of morale and confidence to all under his charge. The wounds he received were the cause of his death.