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Photo # NH 105316:  Captain Louis Cukela, USMC

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- PEOPLE -- UNITED STATES --

Major Louis Cukela, USMC (Retired), (1888-1956)

Louis Cukela was born on 1 May 1888 in Split (Spalato), Croatia (then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and later of Yugoslavia). He emmigrated to the United States in 1913 and enlisted a year later in the U.S. Army from the state of Minnesota, reaching the rank of Corporal before being honorably discharged in 1916. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in January 1917 and, after the United States entered World War I later in the year, was sent to France with the Sixty-Sixth Company, Fifth Marine Regiment. While in France, he participated in combat with his unit and was promoted to Sergeant. On 18 July 1918, during action in the Forest de Retz, near Viller-Cottertes, France, he single-handedly captured a German machine gun position and several of its crew. For his "extraordinary heroism" on this occasion, Sergeant Cukela was awarded the Medal of Honor by both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army.

Twice wounded in subsequent fighting, Cukela received a field appointment in September 1918 to the rank of Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve and, in the Spring of 1919, was given an officer's commission in the regular Marine Corps. That Summer, he was promoted to First Lieutenant and in November reported to the First Provisional Marine Brigade in Haiti. Later serving with the Second Brigade Marines in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, he was promoted in September 1921 to Captain. In November 1923, Captain Cukela returned to the United States and was assigned to the Marine Barracks at Quantico, Virginia. He went to China in 1927 for duty with the Marines' Third Brigade, remaining there into 1929, when he was ordered to return to the United States for service at the Washington Navy Yard, D.C.

Captain Cukela reported in September 1931 to the Norfolk Navy Yard at Portsmouth, Virginia. This was followed by duty as Company Commander with the Civilian Conservation Corps at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He returned in 1935 to the Norfolk Navy Yard, remaining there for the next five years. Cukela retired in June 1940, receiving promotion at that time to the rank of Major on the retired list. He was called back to active duty before United States entry into World War II and served at the Navy Yards at Norfolk, Virginia and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In May 1946, he was placed on the inactive retired list. Major Louis Cukela died on 19 March 1956 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.

This page features all the images we have concerning Louis Cukela.


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Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 105316

Captain Louis Cukela, USMC


Halftone reproduction of a photograph, copied from the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 115.
Louis Cukela received the Medal of Honor for "extraordinary heroism" on 18 July 1918, during combat action in the Forest de Retz, near Viller-Cottertes, France.
In this photograph, he is wearing the World War I Navy Medal of Honor ("Tiffany Cross") around his neck, with miniatures of his other medals across the chest of his uniform jacket.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 46KB; 590 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 79333

Captain Louis Cukela, USMC


Photographed circa 1921-1930.
Then-Sergeant Cukela was awarded the Medal of Honor for "extraordinary heroism" in combat on 18 July 1918.
This photograph shows him wearing the Army Medal of Honor around his neck, and the Navy Medal of Honor ("Tiffany Cross" pattern) below the Army Medal, on the far left of the row of medals on his chest.
This photograph was taken from his official service jacket.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 34KB; 510 x 765 pixels

 



U.S. Navy Medal of Honor citation of Sergeant Louis Cukela, USMC (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 115):

"For extraordinary heroism while serving with the Sixty-sixth Company, Fifth Regiment, during action in the Forest de Retz, near Viller-Cottertes, France, 18 July 1918. Sergeant 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 machine-gun emplacement, he killed or drove off the crew with his bayonet, bombed out the remaining part of the strong point with German hand grenades and captured two machine guns and four men."

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U.S. Army Medal of Honor citation of Sergeant Louis Cukela, USMC (as printed in the 24 February 1979 U.S. Senate publication "Medal of Honor Receipients, 1863-1978 ", page 437-438):

"When his company, advancing through a wood, met with strong resistence 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."


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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Page made 14 November 2007
Edited and reposted 11 April 2008