Straub, Paul F

PAUL F. STRAUB, M. D., Third Assistant Physician at the Iowa Sate Hospital for the Insane, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, was born in the celebrated Black Forest of Germany, near Baden, July 3, 1865. His parents, Edward and Addrienna [Rappenecker] Straub, were natives of that country, and emigrated from Germany to America in 1872, with their family, and came directly to Mt. Pleasant, where they now reside.

Paul, the subject of our sketch, received his primary education in the public schools of Mt. Pleasant, and spent one and a half years as a student of the Iowa Wesleyan University. He then took a regular course at the medical department of the Iowa State University, and graduated in the class of 1885. He was then employed at the Kansas State Insane Asylum, at Topeka, several months, and in May, 1886, was appointed to his present position. He is a member of Mt. Pleasant Lodge No. 1, A. F. & A. M., of Henry Chapter No. 8, R. A. M., and of Jerusalem Commandery No. 20, all of Mt. Pleasant.

Dr. Straub is a promising young physician, who has but entered upon his career in the honorable profession of medicine.

(Portrait and Biographical Album, Henry County, Iowa; Acme Publishing Company, Chicago, 1888, p. 621)

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Paul Straub was born near Baden, Germany, 3 July 1865. In 1872 he came to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, with his parents, Edward and Addrienna (Rappenecker) Straub. After attending Mt. Pleasant’s public schools, Straub began his college education at Iowa Wesleyan, then enrolled at the State University of Iowa medical school in Iowa City, graduating in 1885. Upon completion and short stint at the Kansas State Insane Asylum at Topeka, Dr. Straub served as Third Assistant Physician at the Iowa State Hospital for the Insane at Mt. Pleasant. He stayed at the Iowa hospital for only a few years, because in 1892 he had earned an advanced medical degree from Berlin University.

Back from Berlin, Straub began his military career as assistant surgeon in the U.S. Army’s Medical Corps. He had earned his captain’s bars one year before the Spanish-American War began. In July, 1899, he accepted his appointment of major and surgeon of the 36th United States Volunteer Infantry, the unit in which he served when he earned his Medal of Honor. He left the Philippines in March, 1901, and stayed in the army until retiring under a disability in 1919 with the rank of colonel. In addition to his Philippine War service (where he earned his Medal of Honor and two other decorations for bravery) his varied career duties included positions at the office of the Surgeon General and General Staff Corps at the Army War College. He published articles and books on field medicine and surgery and pioneered the formation of the Association of Military Surgeons. His last job before retirement was Librarian in the Surgeon General’s Library. He died in Los Angeles, California, 19 November 1937, and is buried in Dubuque.

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STRAUB, PAUL F.
Rank and organization: Surgeon. 36th Infantry, U.S. Volunteers. Place and date: At Alos, Zambales, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 21 December 1899. Entered service at: Iowa. Birth: Germany. Date of issue: 6 October 1906. Citation: Voluntarily exposed himself to a hot fire from the enemy in repelling with pistol fire an insurgent attack and at great risk of his own life went under fire to the rescue of a wounded officer and carried him to a place of safety.

Contributed by Pat White

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Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. Served as a Surgeon, 36th Infantry, U.S. Volunteers. At Alos, Zambales, Luzon, Philippine Islands, December 21, 1899 Surgeon Straub’s Company was under a heavy enemy fire attack. Exposing himself to the enemy in repelling with pistol fire an at risk of his own life, went to rescue a wounded officer and carried him to safety. Surgeon Paul F. Straub was awarded the Medal of Honor from President Theodore Roosevelt on October 6, 1906. (bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith)