The Washington times., 1913-05-17

President Wilson on Monday AFTER
noon will pin the Congressional medal
of honor. the highest mark of distinc-
tion that can come to an American
soldier, on the breast of Louis Joseph
Van Schaick, who, although unable to
get through West Point, is captain
in the United States army, with
career of thirteen years of spectacular.
distinguished service behind him.
In 1896 young Van Schaick, who is a
brother OF the Rev John Van Schaick,
of Washington, and pronounces ms
name Ivan Skoyk,' beink Dutch and
hailing from Cobleskill. n. Y, took
competitive examination for a West
Point appointment-and failed In Mathe-
mates.
Then he got an appointment without
examination, entered West Point. stay
ed a year-and failed in mathematics.
He obtained a re-appointment, re,
entered West Point, STAYED year and
That was 1895, just before the Span
ish-Amerfcan war, so he easily got an
appointment as lieutenant IN the reg
ular army-and failed because of
technical question OF eligibility.
Fifth Time Success.
Then he obtained another appoint
ment-and stuck, landing a commission
as second lieutenant, April 10. 1899. after
four failures to get into the army.
CAPTAIN Van Schaick's whole life In
the army has been spent in the Philip
mines and IL was there that he ren-
dered the distinguished service that
brings the medal OF honor. The best
evidence of the kind of service ne, mas
been performing is the little TACT tnat,
although he has been an ofhcer OF t.e
20
never had on a dress coat until last
New Years day. when. being an ofneef
on leave In Washington. he was eH-
nected to call at the White House. he
had to buy a dress coat for tne e'ent;
Ali the rest of his army life he hao
T-ncIa SANS promptness in recogniz.
ing the valor of his soldiers Is Wen
Illustrated by Van Schaicks case.
Twelve years ago, Van Scnaich, e
a second lieutenant. was OUT ncouns
with twenty men in the Phihpplne&s, &
Hhen he and one man, who were loo
Yards ahead, came out OF q canyon anu
ran into an army of 800 Filipinos.
Charged On Party.
Van Schaick couldn't retreat without
having his little party wiped OUT. 80
he did the only other thing-cnarseu
the 200 with an army Of one, equipped
only with revolvers. killed hair DOZEN
took twenty prisoners. and routed the
rest Incidentally. Van Scnaick s,ns ntn a
was hacked with a bolo, but after
year in the hospital was turned out
as sound as ever. s.,.-
For that performance Congress ADOPT
ed a resolution commencing the youns
officer and directing that the on,
on him. That's the medal. which. afer
he,ne hound up In departmental req
tame for more than a decade, VIII pc
ninned on Van Schaick's coat Monday
afternoon by President Wilson: ,,,
has been honored by receiving the gold
medal for saving life In the periis OF
the sea-" The performance tnat
brought that medal was also heroic,
the young officer struggling for hours
above water the heads Of two OF his
soldiers who couldn't swim. There was
NOT 70 much red tape In this case, ana
the medal was promptly bestowed. AZ
ter Monday. Van Schaick VIII De tne
onIy men who holds both the Congress
sionai medal Of honor and the life-sav-
ANT these are not the only evidences
of distinguished service Possessed ny
this young officer. The American So
ciety of the LeEion fr OF Honor ne,Ysd Us eIh ab.
iIfe-saving medal. and that society.
from it's own membership. selects one
man each year to receive the American
Cross of the Legion Of Honor. There
are only fifteen of these crosses. but
Van Schaick has one.
Few Have Medals.
OF the 1000 officers in the American
army, only forty-three have the Con-
gressional medal of honor. and only
thirteen have the life-saving medal.
Van schaick remained in the Philip