Medal of Honor Roll Call: Edward V. "Eddie" Rickenbacker

This week’s “beyond the call of duty” hero is from Ohio and one of the most famous aviators of all, Edward V. Rickenbacker. Rickenbacker earned seven Distinguished Service Crosses and registered 26 victories.

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Fifty years after his air combat days in France, Rickenbacker told a newspaper that he would round up all the hippies, then cut their hair and “curry them with a horse brush,” before he sent them to Vietnam.

Make the most of your day!

–RJL 

RickenbackerUSAF

Edward V. Rickenbacker

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps, 94th Aero Squadron, Air Service Place and date: Near Billy, France, 25 September 1918 Entered service at: Columbus, Ohio. G.O. No.: 2, W.D., 1931

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy near Billy, France, 25 September 1918. While on a voluntary patrol over the lines, 1st Lt. Rickenbacker attacked 7 enemy planes (5 type Fokker, protecting two type Halberstadt). Disregarding the odds against him, he dived on them and shot down one of the Fokkers out of control. He then attacked one of the Halberstadts and sent it down also.

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