Harold Ernest Goettler

Infobox Military Person
name= Harold Ernest Goettler
born=
died= 1918
placeofbirth=
placeofdeath= KIA near Binarville, France
placeofburial=


caption=Medal of Honor recipient
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Army Air Service
serviceyears= 1917-1918
rank= First Lieutenant
commands=
unit= 130th Field Artillery, [http://www.usafa.af.mil/34trw/edg/50ES/50eshist.htm 50th Aero Squadron, Air Service]
battles= World War I
awards= Medal of Honor
laterwork=

Harold Ernest Goettler was a U.S. Army Air Service aviator 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 was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, pilot, U.S. Army Air Corps, 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.

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War I

Persondata
NAME= Goettler, Harold Ernest
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Army Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=