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Eddie Rickenbacker Is Born
In Columbus, Ohio Edward Reichenbacher was born on October 8th, 1890 without a middle name. Later he changed his last name to Rickenbacker and middle name to 'Veron'. Ever since he was young, he loved working with machnes and knowing how things worked. -
William Rickenbacker's Father Passed Away
Very tragically,William RIckenbacker, Eddie Rickenbacker's father passed away in an accident causing Eddie to quit school and support his family. -
Eddie's First Job
Once Eddie's dad passed away, he was now the head of the house. Eddie quit school to support his family. He found his first job road-testing cars for Frayer-Miller. -
The Start Of Eddie's Racing Career
Eddie started racing cars for Fred Deusenberg; he raced in the Indianapolis 500 three times. He also set a speed record of 134 MPH in a Blitzen Benz. He started making around $40,000 a year racing (a very high amount for this time). -
Wilson declares to be nuetral
The president at the time, Wilson, listened to the publics opinion and make the choice to not enter war. -
Austria-Hungary Declares War
Earlier, Austria-Hungary's Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assasinated by a Serbian man which is the motive for declaring war. -
WWI Starts
The assassination of Franz Ferdinand, the archduke of Austria-Hungary was the main reason for the war to start. He was killed by a Serbian named Gavrilo Princip. -
Getting Into WWI
Proposed a flying squadron staffed by race car drivers. The US didn't accept the proposal but decided to hire him to be a diver for the Army genreal staff. -
Pilot Training
When Eddie was 27, he entered pilot training. He was made engineering officer at the Issoudum Aerodrome because of his love for machinery and his mechanical skills. -
US declares war
The US decided to declare war on Germany on April 6, 1917. -
Permission for war
President Wilson asks to declare car on Germany which was sucessful. -
Signed the Selective Service Act
During WWI, Wilson saw no other option but to sign this act during the war to increase the military power of the US. This act was later removed after the war. -
14 Points
President Woodrow WIlson proposed his fourteen points of peace to later on use in negotiations after the war that wouls help keep peace within countries. -
94th Pursuit
Eddie was assigned to the new 94th pursuit squadron which included James Norman Hall, Hamilton Coolidge, James Meissner, Reed Chamber, and Harvey Cook. -
Cantigny
This battle was the first victory for the US in World War 1. They beat the French Army in what is today Cantiny Park
