Elmer Gedeon

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Elmer Gedeon
Gedeon, 1938
Born(1917-04-15)April 15, 1917
Cleveland, Ohio
DiedApril 20, 1944(1944-04-20) (aged 27)
Saint-Pol, German-occupied France
Place of burialArlington National Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army Air Forces
Years of service1941–1944
Rank Captain
Unit586th Bomb Squadron, 394th Bombardment Group
Battles/warsWorld War II
Awards Soldier's Medal
Purple Heart

Elmer John Gedeon (April 15, 1917 – April 20, 1944) is one of only two Major League Baseball players killed in action during World War II.[1] He was also a multi-sport star in college at the University of Michigan.

At Michigan, Gedeon became an All-American in track and field, and earned varsity letters in both American football and baseball. He tied a world record in the high hurdles in 1938. After graduating, Gedeon had a position in Major League Baseball as an outfielder for the Washington Senators. Gedeon spent most of the 1939 and 1940 baseball seasons in the minor leagues. He was called up to the Senators in September 1939.

Gedeon's was drafted by the United States Army in early 1941. Since he was drafted, he had to stop baseball. He trained as a bomber pilot. He served in combat, and was shot down and killed in France, April 1944.

References[change | change source]

  1. Weintraub, Robert (May 26, 2013). "Two Who Did Not Return". The New York Times. Retrieved May 26, 2013.