Harold Ernest Goettler (July 21, 1890 – October 6, 1918) was a U.S.
Army Air Service aviator
An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who controls the flight of an aircraft by operating its Aircraft flight control system, directional flight controls. Some other aircrew, aircrew members, such as navigators or flight engineers, are al ...
killed in action on October 6, 1918 while locating the
Lost Battalion of the 77th Division during
World War I. He died of wounds resulting from German fire from the ground during the flight. For his actions, he
posthumously received the
Medal of Honor. He attended the
University of Chicago, and the Harold E. Goettler Political Institutions Prize awarded to University of Chicago undergraduates is named in his honor.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, pilot, U.S. Air Service, 50th Aero Squadron, Air Service. Place and date: Near Binarville, France, October 6, 1918. Entered service at: Chicago, Ill. Born: July 21, 1890, Chicago, Ill. G.O. No.: 56, W.D., 1922.
Citation:
1st. Lt. Goettler, with his observer, 2d Lt. Erwin R. Bleckley, 130th Field Artillery, left the airdrome late in the afternoon on their second trip to drop supplies to a battalion of the 77th Division which had been cut off by the enemy in the Argonne Forest. Having been subjected on the first trip to violent fire from the enemy, they attempted on the second trip to come still lower in order to get the packages even more precisely on the designated spot. In the course of this mission the plane was brought down by enemy rifle and machinegun fire from the ground, resulting in the instant death of 1st. Lt. Goettler. In attempting and performing this mission 1st. Lt. Goettler showed the highest possible contempt of personal danger, devotion to duty, courage and valor.U.S. Air Force: Goettler Medal of Honor citation
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See also
*
List of Medal of Honor recipients
The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recipient must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their ...
*
List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War I
References
External links
*
Guide to the Harold E. Goettler Papers 1909–1979at th
University of Chicago Special Collections Research Center
{{DEFAULTSORT:Goettler, Harold Ernest
1890 births
1918 deaths
American football tackles
Chicago Maroons football players
American military personnel killed in World War I
United States Army Medal of Honor recipients
United States Army officers
World War I recipients of the Medal of Honor
Players of American football from Chicago
Burials at Graceland Cemetery (Chicago)
Military personnel from Chicago