Green Lawn Cemetery, section 58. Columbus Ohio.
Eddie Rickenbacker was born Edward Rickenbacher in Columbus, Ohio in 1890. When World War 1 broke out, Rickenbacher changed the spelling to Rickenbacker to sound less German. Since he was born without a middle name, he adopted Vernon as his middle name.
Rickenbacker enlisted in the Army when the U.S. entered the war. Eventually he got a spot in the 94th Aero Squadron. Captain Eddie was able to become an Ace when he shot down his 5th plane on May 28th, 1918. He would go on to achieve 26 kills.
In 1931, Rickenbacker was awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in the war.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps, 94th Aero Squadron, Air Service. Place and date: Near Billy, France, 25 September 1918. Entered service at: Columbus, Ohio. Born: 8 October 1890, Columbus, Ohio. G.O. No.: 2, W.D., 1931. 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 7 enemy planes (5 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.
After the war he started the Rickenbacker Motor Company in 1920, which went bankrupt in 1927. In 1927, Captain Eddie bought the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Rickenbacker owned it until 1942. For many years, Rickenbacker was head of Eastern Air Lines which operated from 1926 to 1991.
The lot in Green Lawn Cemetery includes quite a few members of the Rickenbacker family. Eddie and his wife Adelaide have their names on one of the markers.
A distant relative of Eddie Rickenbacker was Adolph Rickenbacher. Rickenbacher started Ro-Pat-In Corporation that became known Rickenbacker International Corporation, a maker of guitars. The name was changed from Rickenbacher to Rickenbacker in part of the famous family connection.
