b. 21/07/1890 Chicago, Illinois. d. 06/10/1918 Binarville, France.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 06/10/1918 Binarville, France.
Harold E Goettler MOH
World War I Medal of Honor Recipient. He was a pilot with the 50th Aero Squadron whose mission resulted in the rescue of the “Lost Battalion.” Goettler and observer Lt. Erwin Bleckly suffered mortal wounds on this mission and were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in December 1922. The medal was mailed to his mother. Goettler’s remains had been reinterred from France to Graceland Cemetery the previous year. Bleckly remained in France.
MOH 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.
BURIAL LOCATION: GRACELAND CEMETERY, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.
SECTION E&F, LOT 506
LOCATION OF MEDAL: NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE US AIR FORCE, WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, OHIO.
