Born in Chicago in 1866, James Robb Church 1888 was one of Princeton’s greatest athletes, playing both football and lacrosse. He went on to medical school at Columbia and practiced medicine with Dr. Leonard Wood; when Wood became the commander of the 1st Volunteer Cavalry (the Rough Riders), he brought Church along as an assistant surgeon.

At Las Guasimas, Cuba, on June 24, 1898, the Rough Riders, along with the 10th Regular Cavalry, attacked a Spanish position.

Seventeen Americans were killed and 52 were wounded, many of whom were tended by Church. He “did his best to stop the flow of blood and bind up ruptured flesh throughout the morning,” his citation reads. “Time and again he braved the fusillade of enemy Mauser bullets to enter the battlefield, locate the most badly injured, and then carry them through the gauntlet of enemy fire to the safety of the rear … .”

In 1906, Church was the first Medal of Honor recipient to receive his award at the White House, where it was presented by his former commanding officer, President Theodore Roosevelt.

Church remained in the Army as a surgeon. He was sent to observe the French Army in World War I, studying the effect of poison gases. He later examined and tested gas masks sent to France to protect U.S. soldiers, severely gassing himself during the test.

He died in 1923 at 57, as an indirect result of the gassing. In 1925, his family presented his Medal of Honor to the Princeton University Library.