Period:

Korean War (1950-1953)

Rank:

Tijdelijk Luitenant-kolonel (Temporary Lieutenant Colonel)

Unit:

38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division "Indianhead", U.S. Army

Awarded on:

February 28th, 1951

General Orders no. 106 (posthumously awarded)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Tijdelijk Luitenant-kolonel (Temporary Lieutenant Colonel)

Unit:

38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division "Indianhead", U.S. Army

Awarded on:

April 14th, 1951

Recommendation:
For having distinguished himself in battle by eminently courageous, tactful and loyal conduct. In particular:
1. As commanding officer of the Dutch Detachment, part of the United Nations Armed Forces in Korea, for which command he had volunteered, having performed his duties, including being the head of a representative body of the Dutch Nation among other foreign representatives, with utmost tact and thereby upholding the Dutch reputation abroad in exemplary fashion.
2. After training of the detachment had begun on November 28, 1950 and a period of 9 days for advanced training had been planned and accepted, they left the training center Taegu for Suivon (25 miles south of Seoul), as ordered by the commander of the Amrican 8th Army, in connection with the unfavorable progress of the military situation and having received orders to make small reconnaissances right away, their lower level of trainig being accepted by the American military leadership unless the Dutch Detachment gave the impression to be a well disciplined and battle-hardened unit, which is to be attributed to the excellent preparation and leadership by the commander of the detachment of his personnel even before departure from the Netherland and later during the voyage to Korea.
3. Building on the experience gained in Indonesia by him and many of his men as to fighting guerillas, he adapted and applied this method of warfare in an utmost correct and tactful fashion on the Korean battlefield, as a result of which the detachment gained special honor and appreciation from the American military leadership and this method of warfare being emulated soon which was very favorable for the outcome of the fighting.
4. Having encouraged his troops to the greatest effort by his personal example of courage and diligence during all actions, despite often very trying circumstances as a result of the climatic conditions of the war zone and great distances to be secured, in connection with the strength of the detachment, by his continuous presence in the most forward line of action or in the most threatened unit of his detachment, sharing all hazards and privations of his troops, which was particularly evident during the three-day battle from February 13 to 15, 1951 when the men of the Dutch Detachment eventually managed to recapture in heavy fighting Hill 325 near Wonju, fiercely defended by the enemy, although they were shocked by the news of the death of their commander
5. Having received orders to hold part of the defensive line near Hungsong with the Dutch Detachment and shortly after midnight of February 12, 1951 being attacked by Chinese Communists in large numbers, driving back one of the two Dutch rear guard companies. He led the attack from his command post when a group of some 60 Chinese penetrated the area on the heels of retreating South-Korean troops.
Being attacked by Dutch soldiers, the enemy troops started throwing hand grenades and firing light weapons. He immediately took command of the headquarters company and set up a defensive line. He fearlessly defied enemy fire, running from place to place, freeig his men from hazardous positions and directing their fire. At that moment a hostile mortar bomb struck a truck near the command post, setting it on fire; the figure of the commander of the Dutch Detachment, sharply outlined against the background became a target of concentrated fire. While he courageously returned this fire, he was mortally injured by an enemy hand grenades, tossed from close range. Urged on by the fearless, courageous and sacrificing conduct of their commander, his men fought bravely and dispersed the enemy.

Royal decree no. 14 (posthumously awarded)

Period:

Korean War (1950-1953)

Awarded on:

July 23rd, 1951

Royal decree no. 30 (posthumously awarded).

With bar "KOREA 1950".

Period:

Korean War (1950-1953)

Awarded on:

1951

Posthumously awarded

Period:

Korean War (1950-1953)

Awarded on:

January 22nd, 1952

Royal decree no. 25 (posthumously awarded)

Period:

Korean War (1950-1953)

Awarded on:

1951

Posthumously awarded

Period:

Korean War (1950-1953)

Awarded on:

1951

Posthumously awarded

Period:

Korean War (1950-1953)

Awarded on:

1951

With palm

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Indonesian War of Independence (1945-1949)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)