The Hero of Kenosha – The Story of Nicholas A. Schulz, the First Kenoshan to Receive the Croix de Guerre in WWI

“Kenosha is proud of her first Croix de Guerre. She is prouder of the young hero whose brave deeds were worthy of such recognition. She had something more to add to her glories and the name of Nicholas Schutz will be remembered long after this war has ceased.”

This is a great RPPC (Real Photo Post Card) of Private Nicholas Anthony Schutz, Section 544, United States Army Ambulance Service, the first soldier of Kenosha, Wisconsin to be awarded the Croix de Guerre. He first received the decoration on June 9th, 1918 and was cited again in July, 1918. His citation reads:

“The General Puyperoux, commanding officer of the 3rd Colonial Infantry Division, gives the following citation to the order of the division:

Pvt. Nicholas A. Sehutz, No. 8434

During the fire at a poste de secours, caused by the enemy’s shell-fire, has greatly co-operated with courage and sang-froid, to save the sanitary material and furniture of the inhabitants.

Le General Puyperoux,

Commandant La Srd D. I. C.,

General Puyperoux.”

He was awarded the Croix de Guerre a second time in July 1918 for crossing the firing line in an effort to rescue wounded men during the Champagne-Marne Offensive.

“The story behind the Croix de Guerre which recently reached the North Side home is one of the most interesting war experiences which has happened to any Kenoshan.

Early in the war Nicholas Schutz volunteered and entered the Ambulance Corps outfit with which he has been serving almost two years in France. His chance to win glory came in July of 1918 in the opening of the drive which finally closed the war.

The Germans in their manner of carrying on war had fired on a hospital set up behind the lines in France. Schutz was in the Ambulance Corps men who were assigned to the rescue work and he dared danger to carry the soldiers from the hospital in spite of the fire from the enemy guns. Several days later he was notified by the French government that his bravery had been recognized and that a cross would be awarded to him in the near future. Private Schutz was also cited for bravery at another time for crossing the firing line in an effort to rescue the wounded after one of the battles in July on the western front.”

A front page newspaper article published on July 3rd, 1918 reads:

“The citation explains the entire situation. Nick evidently plunged into a burning aid station which had been fired by the shells of the boche and without thought of self danger, displayed that indomitable courage and sang-froid (a good French expression for downright Yankee cool-headedness) that is characteristic of our young Americans and saved the furniture and sanitary materials from the flames. The fact that he was cited for courage and coolness verifies the suggestion that he was in immediate peril.

Schutz was decorated on June 9th by General Puyperoux, commander of the third division of the Colonial Infantry.

Kenosha’s hero enlisted in the Ambulance Corps on June 2nd, 1917. He was trained in Allentown, Pa., and sailed for France the following January. Since then he has seen active service on the French front in the Sanitation Service Unit 544 and while in that division had the opportunity of giving the service that was deserving of honors. As a result he has a souvenir that will mean much in the family history. It will mean in the years to come that one member of that family was recognized for valor in the great world war, that he was recognized by a country to whom we owe our greatest debt. Schutz has helped Kenosha pay her part of the debt to the countrymen of Lafayette.

Kenosha is proud of her first Croix de Guerre. She is prouder of the young hero whose brave deeds were worthy of such recognition. She had something more to add to her glories and the name of Nicholas Schutz will be remembered long after this war has ceased.

It is interesting to know that the first Kenoshan to win the Croix do Guerre is the grandson of a woman who was born and raised in Germany. And the fact that he has been decorated is proof in itself that in France as in this country there is no prejudice where there is loyalty.”

Nicholas was born in Kenosha on March 30th, 1896. He was abnormally tall for the era, standing at 6′ 1/2″. He left for France on January 9th, 1918. He served with the French Army and returned on May 23rd, 1919. He joined the U.S. Postal Service shortly upon returning on July 9th, 1919. His father and brother were convicted of illegal transportation of liquor during Prohibition.

Nicholas retired from the USPS after 34 years in 1953. He spent his life in Kenosha, passing away on December 4th, 1980 at the age of 84.

Michael R. Santoro is a historic researcher & antiquarian of the First World War. After finishing his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Architecture & Historic Preservation at the University at Buffalo, New York, he spent a year developing a museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and another year freelancing research in order to preserve the stories of soldiers long forgotten. He now works full time at International Military Antiques in Gillette, New Jersey as a Historical Research Specialist & Authenticator, preserving countless items & stories across all nations and eras.

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