Emory Jenison Pike
{{Short description|United States Army officer (1876–1918)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Emory Jenison Pike
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1876|12|18}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1918|09|16|1876|12|18}}
| birth_place = ColumbusCopy of eulogy kept by the Pike family for his burial in Des Moines, IA. City, Iowa
| death_place = Vandieres, France
| placeofburial = Woodland Cemetery, Des Moines, Iowa
| placeofburial_label = Place of burial
| image = Emory J. Pike.png
| image_size = 200
| caption = At West Point in 1901
| nickname =
| allegiance = United States of America
| branch = United States Army
| serviceyears = 1901–1918
| rank = Lieutenant Colonel
| commands = 321st Machine Gun Battalion
| unit = 82nd Division
| battles = World War I
| awards = Medal of Honor
| laterwork =
| relations = Zebulon Pike (great-granduncle)
| signature = Signature of Emory Jenison Pike (1876–1918).png
}}
Emory Jenison Pike (December 18, 1876 – September 16, 1918) was a United States Army officer during World War I who received the Medal of Honor for his actions at Vandieres, France on September 15, 1918.{{Cite web|title=Pike, Emory J.|publisher=HomeofHeroes.com|url=http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/citations_1918_wwi/pike.html|accessdate=2009-04-09}} A 1901 graduate of West Point, and the only West Point graduate to be awarded the Medal of Honor during World War I, Pike was a lieutenant colonel at Vandieres. His daughter was presented his Medal of Honor after the war.{{Cite web|title=Lieutenant Colonel Emory J. Pike|publisher=Iowa Meda of Honor Heroes|url=http://www.iowahistory.org/museum/exhibits/medal-of-honor/pike_e_ww1/index.htm|accessdate=2009-04-09}} He was buried at Woodland Cemetery, Des Moines, Iowa.{{cite web|url=https://iowaculture.gov/history/blog/stories-stone-woodland-cemetery |title=Stories in Stone from Woodland Cemetery | date=October 11, 2016 |publisher=Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs | author=State Historical Society of Iowa |authorlink=State Historical Society of Iowa | access-date=June 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107100029/https://iowaculture.gov/history/blog/stories-stone-woodland-cemetery |archive-date=January 7, 2017 |url-status=live}} He was the great-grandnephew of explorer Zebulon Pike.{{Cite web |title=Henry County IAGenWeb |url=https://iagenweb.org/henry/Military/PikeEmoryJ.html |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=iagenweb.org}}
Medal of Honor citation
Citation:
Having gone forward to reconnoiter new machinegun positions, Lt. 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, Lt. 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, Lt. 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 Lt. 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.
See also
{{Portal|Biography}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{USMALists}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pike, Emory Jenison}}
Category:American military personnel killed in World War I
Category:Burials at Woodland Cemetery (Des Moines, Iowa)
Category:United States Army Medal of Honor recipients
Category:United States Military Academy alumni
Category:Military personnel from Iowa
Category:World War I recipients of the Medal of Honor