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Class of 1901

Vol. V
p675 4066

(Born Ia.)

Emory J. Pike

(Ap'd Ia.)

Military History. — Cadet at the Military Academy, June 19, 1897 to Feb. 18, 1901, when he was graduated and promoted in the Army to

Second Lieut., 2d Cavalry (to rank from Feb. 2, 1901)a

(First Lieut., 15th Cavalry, Aug. 20, 1906)

— Unknown, no information having been received.

Vol. VI
p979 [Supplement, Vol. VI: 1910‑1920]

(Emory Jenison Pike, Born Dec. 17, 1876.)

Military History. —

Medal of Honor

Second Lieut., 2d Cavalry, Feb. 18, 1901,
With Rank From Feb. 2, 1901.

At Matanzas, Cuba, commanding Troop, April 14 to Dec. 20, 1901; at Fort Myer, Va., Squadron Quartermaster and Commissary, Dec. 27, 1901, to Dec. 18, 1903; en route to Philippines, via Suez Canal, Dec. 19, 1903, to Feb. 18, 1904; at San Mateo, P. I., Feb. 19, 1904, to April 5, 1905; at Camp Stotsenburg, P. I., with Troop, April 10, 1905, to Jan. 4, 1906; en route to U. S. with regiment, Jan. 5 to Feb. 4, 1906; at Fort Assinniboine, Montana, with Troop, Feb. 15, 1906, to

(First Lieut., 15th Cavalry, Aug. 20, 1906)

Feb. 12, 1907; en route to Cuba, Feb. 13 to 19, 1907; at Cienfuegos, Cuba, with Troop, March 1 to Sept. 5, 1907; at Soledad, Cuba, commanding Troop, Dec. 6 to 27, 1907; at Cienfuegos, Dec. 28, 1907, to March 6, 1908; en route to U. S., March 7 to 11, 1908; at Fort Ethan Allen, Vt., March 14, 1908, to July 27, 1909; at Fort Leavenworth, Kans., July 30 to Oct. 23, 1909; Squadron Adjutant, Oct. 24, 1909, to Sept. 22, 1910; at Fort Riley, Kans., student officer, Mounted Service School, Sept. 23, 1910, to Feb. 14, 1911; at Fort Leavenworth, Kans., with Troop, Feb. 23, 1911, to July 19, 1913; student officer, Army Service Schools, July 20, 1913, to April 29, 1914; distinguished graduate; at Marfa, Texas, with Troop, May 9 to Aug. 1, 1914; at Fort Bliss, Texas, Aug. 3 to 16, 1914; at Fort Leavenworth, Kans., student officer, Army Service Schools, Aug. 20, 1914, to July 18, 1915; on leave of absence, July 19 to

(Transferred to 8th Cavalry, Aug. 15, 1915)

Sept. 14, 1915; at Fort Bliss, Texas, Sept. 17, 1915, to Jan. 12, 1916; at Sierra Blanca, Texas, Jan. 14 to May 18, 1916; at Fort Bliss, May 20, 1916, to

(Captain of Cavalry, July 1, 1916)

(Assigned to 8th Cavalry, Oct. 9, 1916)

(Major of Infantry, National Army, Aug. 5, 1917)

Aug. 20, 1917; at Camp Upton, N. Y., with 321st Machine Gun Battalion, Aug. 23, 1917, to May 2, 1918; en route to France, May 3 to 20,

(Lieut.‑Colonel of Infantry, National Army, May 11, 1918)

1918; in France with 321st Machine Gun Battalion, May 21 to Sept. 16, 1918; mortally wounded in action near Vandieres, France, Sept. 15, 1918.

Died, Sept. 16, 1918, in France: Aged 41.

Awarded posthumously

Medal of Honor

Jan. 10, 1919, "for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Vandières, France, September 15, 1918. Having gone forward to reconnoiter new machine‑gun positions, 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, 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, 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 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."

Portrait and obituary in Annual Report, Association of Graduates, for 1921.º

Buried, Woodland Cemetery, Des Moines, IA.

Thayer's Note:

a This line is not in the Register. I added it on the model of the entries for his classmates, as confirmed by the Supplement, Vol. VI.

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