When I was teaching American History, I used to end each unit with a biography of a person the was a role model from that unit. For my WWI unit, the role model was Eddie Rickenbacker. He was born on Oct. 8, 1890. Here are the notes I gave for him.
- born poor
- dropped out of 7th grade to help family after dad died
- race car driver who was the first man to drive a mile a minute
– competed in the Indianapolis 500
– set the world speed record at 134 MPH
- volunteered for WWI
– was Pershing’s driver
- became a pilot at age 27
– headed the “Hat in the Ring” Squadron
– shot down 26 German aircraft (planes and observation balloons) in dogfights to become the “Ace of Aces” ( ace = shot down 5 aircraft)
– awarded the Medal of Honor (here is the 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 seven enemy planes (five 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.
- President of American Airlines
– called “Captain Eddie”
– made the company profitable
– “died” in a crash – he was among the dead until someone noticed he was breathing
- during WWII went on morale-boosting tours
– spent 24 days in a lifeboat after a plane crash
- “Courage is doing what you’re afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you’re scared.”
- “The 4 cornerstones of character on which the structure of the nation was built were imagination, initiative, individuality, and independence.”
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