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Navy Federal Credit Union

Second Lieutenant (Air Service) Samuel Reeves Keesler, United States Army Air Service, was captured after his airplane was shot down behind German lines on 8 October 1918, and he was held as a Prisoner of War until his death from wounds sustained in the air crash, on the following day.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Second Lieutenant (Air Service)

    Batallion:

    24th Aero Squadron

    Division:

    American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    October 8, 1918
    GHQ, American Expeditionary Forces, Citation Orders No. 3 (June 3, 1919)

    By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Second Lieutenant (Air Service) Samuel Reeves Keesler, United States Army Air Service, is cited (Posthumously) for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Second Lieutenant Keesler distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving as an Aerial Observer with the 24th Aero Squadron, American Expeditionary Forces, in action near Verdun, France, 8 October 1918, in bringing down one of an enemy formation of four planes.