At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, much of the world quietly celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Armistice that ended “The War to End All Wars.” Total casualties, killed and wounded, numbered about 37 million. Of that number, approximately 17 million were killed – 7 million civilians and 10 million military personnel. Sadly, the agreement to end that war included provisions that ultimately led to the Second World War. There were plenty of stories of heroism and devotion to duty during the war, and one of those belongs to Edward Vernon Rickenbacker, America’s “Ace of Aces,” race driver, savior of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, leader of Eastern Airlines, and Vice President of Rickenbacker Motor Company.
Eddie Rickenbacker
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