Edmond Genet

Edmond Charles Clinton Genet circa 1915-1917

Edmond Charles Clinton Genet (November 9, 1896 - April 17, 1917) was the first American flier to die in the First World War after the United States declared war against Germany, shot down by anti-aircraft artillery on April 17, 1917.

Biography

He was born in Ossining, New York on November 9, 1896 to Albert Rivers Genet and Martha Rodman Fox. Genet was the second great grandson of Edmond-Charles Genêt.

Edmond Genet sailed for France at the end of January 1915, to join the French Foreign Legion while still technically on leave from the US Navy. He never arranged to be formally relieved of his responsibility to the Navy before joining the Lafayette Escadrille on January 22, 1917. This decision weighed heavily on him as time wore on since he could be classified as a deserter because the US was not yet formally in the war and his involvement in the Escadrille was therefore not an official assignment by the US military. Throughout his stay in France he, along with other members of the Escadrille, participated in social events hosted by many American supporters of the War living in France. He was particularly celebrated since it was known that he was the descendant of Citizen Genet. As the prospect of American Involvement in the war grew he became both increasingly worried and hopeful that his participation in the Escadrille would not be affected by the American entry into the war and sought the help of prominent Americans in France to help him straighten out his status. Ironically he died shortly after the formal entry of the US into the war before the issue of his status could be dealt with. Although other Americans had died as part of the Escadrille, he was the first one to do so after the US formally declared war on the Central powers. This made him the first official American casualty of the war despite the fact that the US had not yet had time to organize or send any actual troops to Europe. The war department posthumously sent his family a letter stating that his service was to be considered in all respects honorable.

He died on April 17, 1917 in France.[1][2] He was 20 years old at the time of his death.

References

  1. ↑ "Genet, American Flier, Killed At The Front. Ossining Youth, Who Was a Descendant of Gov. Clinton, Enlisted at Beginning of War". New York Times. April 18, 1917. Retrieved 2015-05-05.
  2. ↑ "Edmond Charles Clinton Genet". New York Times. May 17, 1917. Retrieved 2015-05-05. We have just heard of the death of Edmond Charles Clinton Genet of the American Escadrille, killed on April 16.

Further reading

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