When the Burn Pit first came on line in 2009, a number of posts were published detailing the actions of American servicemen who received the Medal of Honor. I am going to continue that tradition by highlighting a proud Marine who receivied 2 Medals of Honor for the same act of heroism during the First World War (aka the "War to End All Wars").

Louis Cukela was born Vjekoslav Lujo ?ukela (pronounced "LU-yo CHU-ke-la") on May 1, 1888 in the Dalmatian city of Split, Croatia which was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In 1913, Cukela and his brother emigrated to America, settling in Minneapolis, Minnesota, while the remainder of his family (his father and three sisters) remained in Europe. On September 21, 1914, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was serving as a corporal in Company H, 13th Infantry Regiment when he was honorably discharged on June 12, 1916.

Seven months later, on January 31, 1917, with World War I raging in Europe and before the U.S. made its entry into the war, Cukela enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He became a member of the 66th Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. He was deployed to France in 1918 and fought in all the engagements in which the 5th Marines participated, from Belleau Wood to the Meuse River Crossing.

The action that earned Gunnery Sergeant Cukela the Medal of Honor occurred during the Battle of Soissons on the morning of July 18, 1918, near Villiers-Cotterets, France. "Gunny" Cukela was leading the 66th Company, 5th Marines through the Forest de Retz. As the Marines advanced, they were stopped by an enemy strong point. Despite the warnings of his men, the gunnery sergeant crawled out from the flank and advanced alone towards the German lines. Getting beyond the strong point despite heavy fire, "Gunny" Cukela captured one Maxim gun by bayoneting its crew. Picking up their hand grenades, he then demolished the remaining portion of the strong point from the shelter of a nearby gun pit. He took four prisoners and captured two undamaged machine guns.

Cukela received a field appointment to the rank of second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve in September of 1918 and was selected for a commission in the regular Marine Corps in March, 1919. Promoted to first lieutenant on July 17, 1919, he was advanced to the rank of captain on September 15, 1921. His promotion to major was effected on the day of his retirement, June 30, 1940.

http://burnpit.us/2014/07/gunnery-sergeant-louis-cukela-receives-medal-honor-%E2%80%93-twice