The President of the United States
in the name of
The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
*GOETTLER, HAROLD ERNEST
(Air Mission)
Rank and Organization: First Lieutenant, pilot, U.S.
Army Air Corps, 50th Aero Squadron, Air Service. Place and Date: Near Binarville,
France, 6 October 1918. Entered Service At: Chicago, Ill. Born: 21 July
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.
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