Hugo W. Koehler

Hugo W. Koehler
Birth nameHugo William Koehler
Born(1886-07-19)July 19, 1886
St. Louis, Missouri, US
DiedJune 17, 1941(1941-06-17) (aged 54)
New York City, US
Buried
Berkeley Memorial Cemetery, Middletown, Rhode Island
Allegiance United States of America
Service / branch United States Navy
Years of service1909–1929 (20 Years)
Rank Commander
CommandsUSS Piscataqua (AT-49)
Battles / warsWorld War I
Russian Civil War
AwardsNavy Cross (1920)
World War I Victory Medal with Submarine Chaser Clasp (1920)
Officer, Legion of Honor (France)
Order of St. Vladimir (Russia), 4th Class with swords and bow (1920)
Order of St. Stanislaus (Russia), 2d Class with swords (1920)
Order of St. Anna (Russia), 2d Class with swords (1920)
Officer, Order of the Crown (Belgium)
Navy Sharpshooter's Badge, Expert (1908)
Signature

Hugo William Koehler (July 19, 1886 – June 17, 1941) (pronounced [ˈkøːlɐ]) was a United States Navy commander, secret agent and socialite. Following the First World War, he served as an Office of Naval Intelligence and State Department operative in Russia during its civil war, and later as naval attaché to Poland. He was rumored to be the illegitimate son of the Crown Prince of Austria and to have assisted the Romanovs in fleeing Russia following the revolution of 1917. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his service during World War I and was the step-father of United States Senator Claiborne Pell (1918–2009).