Isaac Leonard Kitts (January 15, 1896 – April 1, 1953) was an American

horse rider Equestrianism (from Latin , , , 'horseman', 'horse'), commonly known as horse riding (Commonwealth English) or horseback riding (American English), includes the disciplines of riding, driving, and vaulting. This broad description includes the ...

who competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics and in the 1936 Summer Olympics. In 1932 he and his horse ''American Lady'' won the bronze medal as member of the American dressage team in the team dressage competition after finishing sixth in the individual dressage event. Four years later he and his horse ''American Lady'' finished ninth as part of the American dressage team in the team dressage competition after finishing 25th in the individual dressage event. Kitts was born in

New York state New York, officially the State of New York, is a state in the Northeastern United States. It is often called New York State to distinguish it from its largest city, New York City. With a total area of , New York is the 27th-largest U.S. stat ...

. During

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, he was commissioned as a field artillery officer in February 1918. After the war, Kitts joined the Regular Army in September 1920. He graduated from the

United States Army Field Artillery School The United States Army Field Artillery School (USAFAS) trains Field Artillery Soldiers and Marines in tactics, techniques, and procedures for the employment of fire support systems in support of the maneuver commander. The school further develo ...

Battery Officer Course in 1926 and the Advanced Course in 1933. Kitts graduated from the

United States Army Cavalry School The United States Army Cavalry School was part of a series of training programs and centers for its horse mounted troops or cavalry branch. History In 1838, a Cavalry School of Practice was established at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, which in ...

Advanced Equitation Course in 1928 and the

Command and General Staff School The United States Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC or, obsolete, USACGSC) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military ...

in 1939. After

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, he retired from active duty as a colonel on October 31, 1946. During his career, Kitts as awarded the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal. After his death in

Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...

, Kitts was buried at

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...

on April 7, 1953.

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profile
1896 births 1953 deaths United States Army personnel of World War I Military personnel from New York (state) American male equestrians American dressage riders Equestrians at the 1932 Summer Olympics Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in equestrian Medalists at the 1932 Summer Olympics Equestrians at the 1936 Summer Olympics United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni United States Army personnel of World War II Recipients of the Legion of Merit United States Army colonels Military personnel from Indiana Burials at Arlington National Cemetery {{US-Olympic-medalist-stub