medal of honor

Wichita Lodge No. 271, Wichita, KS

Erwin Russell Bleckley was born on 30 December, 1894 in Sedgwick, Kansas.  Son to Elmer Ellsworth Bleckley and Margaret Alice Littell. He attended Wichita High School. From the 1913 Wichita High School yearbook Erwin’s senior year:

Erwin registered for the draft on 5 June, 1917 in Wichita County, KS.  His occupation is listed a Teller at Fourth National Bank in Wichita.  The Service List of Kansas National Guard Officers shows Erwin entered the National Guard as a 2nd Lt. in the 1st Field Artillery on 6 July, 1917 and honorably discharged on 5 August, where he into the Army as a 2nd Lt. in the Kansas Field Artillery.  He transferred to the 130th Field Artillery Regiment on 1 October 1917 and then into the 50th Aero Squadron on 1 July 1918 as an aerial artillery observer.

He was recommended for promotion to first lieutenant for meritorious service during the St. Mihiel offensive, 12 September, 1918.

On 6 October, 1918 Brother Bleckley and his pilot, 2nd Lt. Harold E. Goettler, successfully flew a mission, under “violent fire from the enemy”, to drop supplies to the 77th Division, who had advanced too far alone and was now cut off and surrounded by German forces and refused to surrender (The Lost Battalion).  Late the same afternoon, they left the airdome in their DH-4 aircraft on their second trip to drop supplies to the Lost Battalion.  They attempted on this trip to come in still lower than before, to more accurately drop the supplies.  During this second flight, the plane was shot down by enemy rifle and machine gun fire.  Bro. Bleckley sustained fatal wounds and died before he could be taken to the hospital near Binarville.  Harold Goettler also did not survive.  They did, however, successfully deliver much needed supplies to the Lost Battalion, enabling them to hold out until relieved by advancing American troops.  Both Erwin and Harold were posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for their bravery.

Brother Bleckley was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery on 6 October, 1918.  

 Medal of Honor

Awarded for actions during the World War I

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant (Air Service) Erwin Russell Bleckley, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action as an Observer in the 50th Aero Squadron, 130th Field Artillery, Air Service, A.E.F., at Binarville, France, 6 October 1918.

Second Lieutenant Bleckley, with his pilot, First Lieutenant Harold E. Goettler, Air Service, 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 machinegun fire from the ground, resulting in fatal wounds to Second Lieutenant Bleckley, who died before he could be taken to a hospital.

In attempting and performing this mission Second Lieutenant Bleckley showed the highest possible contempt of personal danger, devotion to duty, courage, and valor.

General Orders: War Department, General Orders 56 (December 30, 1922)
Action Date: 6-Oct-18
Service: Army Air Forces
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Company: Observer, 50th Aero Squadron
Regiment: 130th Field Artillery

Erwin was originally buried in the American Cemetery, Chatrices, Marne; Grave 68, Sec. E, Plot 2.  On 26 October, 1921 Bro. Bleckley was reburied in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery; Grave 33, Row 25, Block F.

Soft and safe, my brother, be thy resting place. Bright and glorious be thy rising from it.

Lest we forget…