Julius Schou

Sergeant Julius Alexis Schou (July 17, 1849 – November 19, 1929) was an American soldier in the U.S. Army who served with the 22nd U.S. Infantry during the Sioux Wars. During the Great Sioux War of 1876, Schou risked his life volunteering to carry dispatches from commanders in the field to Fort Buford. He was eventually recognized for his efforts and received the Medal of Honor on November 19, 1884.

Julius Schou
Born(1849-07-17)July 17, 1849
Copenhagen, Denmark
DiedNovember 19, 1929(1929-11-19) (aged 80)
Arlington, Virginia, United States
Place of burial
Arlington National Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of servicec. 1875–1896
RankSergeant
Unit22nd U.S. Infantry
Battles/warsIndian Wars
Great Sioux War of 1876
AwardsMedal of Honor

Biography

Julius Alexis Schou was born on July 17, 1849, in Copenhagen, Denmark. He later emigrated to the United States and lived in Brooklyn, New York before enlisting in the United States Army in the mid-to late 1870s. Assigned to frontier duty in the Dakota Territory, he saw considerable action with the 22nd U.S. Infantry Regiment during the Sioux Wars. It was during the Great Sioux War of 1876 that the 27-year-old corporal volunteered to deliver dispatches from Brigadier General Elwell Stephen Otis to General William B. Hazen at Fort Buford, a dangerous task which required Schou to ride long distances though wide-open Indian territory, and was cited for distinguished by his superiors. He received an immediate transfer to Troop G of the 4th U.S. Cavalry Regiment and was promoted to the rank of sergeant. He later received the Medal of Honor in recognition of his actions on November 19, 1884;[1][2][3] though he won the award in 1876, his MOH citation was incorrectly dated 1870.[4][5] Prior to his retirement, he served as a recruiting officer in Seattle and, in 1896, was interviewed by The Spokesman-Review.[6] Schou died on November 19, 1929, at the age of 80, and was interred at Arlington National Cemetery with his wife Irma (1864–1937).[7][8][9]

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Corporal, Company I, 22d U.S. Infantry. Place and date: Sioux Campaign, 1870. Entered service at: — . Birth: Denmark. Date of issue: 19 November 1884.

Citation:

Carried dispatches to Fort Buford.[10]

See also

References
  1. Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs. Medal of Honor recipients, 1863–1978, 96th Cong., 1st sess. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 1979. (p. 312)
  2. Army Times Publishing Company. "Military Times Hall of Valor: Julius Alexis Schou". Awards and Citations: Medal of Honor. MilitaryTimes.com. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  3. Sterner, C. Douglas (1999). "MOH Citation for Julius Schou". MOH Recipients: Indian Campaigns. HomeofHeroes.com. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  4. Smith, Oskaloosa, Robert L. Hamilton and William H. Wassell. A History of the Twenty-Second United States Infantry. Manila, Philippines: E.C. McCullough & Co., 1904. (p. 28)
  5. "1st Battalion 22nd Infantry: The 22nd Infantry 1874–1878". 1-22Infantry.org. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  6. "His Ride Among Hostile Sioux; Congress Presented Sergeant Schou With A Medal of Honor". The Spokesman-Review. March 18, 1896. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  7. Burial Detail: Schou, Julius Alexis – ANC Explorer
  8. Holt, Dean W. American Military Cemeteries: A Comprehensive Illustrated Guide to the Hallowed Grounds of the United States, including Cemeteries Overseas. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland, 1992. ISBN 0-89950-666-6
  9. Sterner, C. Douglas (1999). "Photo of Grave site of MOH Recipient Julius Schou". Medal of Honor Recipient Gravesites In The State of. HomeofHeroes.com. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  10. "Medal of Honor recipients". Indian War Campaigns. United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
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