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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant · U.S. Army Air Service

Harold Ernest Goettler

First Lieutenant Harold Ernest Goettler, U.S. Army Air Service, received the Medal of Honor posthumously for actions on October 6, 1918 near Binarville, France during World War I.

World War I October 6, 1918Posthumous

Serving as an airman in the U.S. Army Air Service, First Lieutenant Harold Ernest Goettler was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on October 6, 1918 near Binarville, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with 50th Aero Squadron, Air Service. Goettler was 28 years old.

Goettler was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. 2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on 1923, 5 years after the action.

Goettler was born on July 21, 1890 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. He is buried at Graceland Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois. His medal is held by National Museum of the US Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.

Goettler is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 210 credited to Illinois.

★ Gave Their Lives★ Aviators & Aircrew

Official Medal of Honor citation

First Lt. Harold E. 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 his mission the plane was brought down by enemy rifle and machine-gun 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.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Wounds and death in action

  • Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (October 6, 1918).
  • Age at death: 28
  • Resting place: Graceland Cemetery

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War I.

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Chicago — map
  • Died: Binarville — map
  • Buried: Graceland Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →

Timeline

  1. July 21, 1890
    Born in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
  2. October 6, 1918
    Act of valor — near Binarville, France
    Age 28. 50th Aero Squadron, Air Service Killed in action.
  3. 1923
    Medal of Honor presented posthumously
  4. Resting place
    Graceland Cemetery
    Chicago, Illinois

Biography

Harold Ernest Goettler (July 21, 1890 – October 6, 1918) 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 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.

From the Wikipedia article “Harold Ernest Goettler”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

Also honored for actions on October 6, 1918

Erwin Russell Bleckley Second Lieutenant · Air Force World War I · 1918 ✦ AP Archie A. Peck Private · Army World War I · 1918

More World War I recipients from Illinois

Jake Allex Corporal · Army World War I · 1918 Robert Guy Robinson Gunnery Sergeant · Marine Corps World War I · 1918 JK John Joseph Kelly Private · Marine Corps World War I · 1918 Edouard Victor michel Izac Lieutenant · Navy World War I · 1918 Sydney G. Gumpertz First Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 TP Thomas A. Pope Corporal · Army World War I · 1918
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.