Eddie Rickenbacker: Race Car Driver to WWI Ace and Medal of Honor Recipient

A seventh-grade dropout who started as a mechanic became one of the most accomplished Americans of the 20th century. Eddie Rickenbacker, the son of working-class immigrants, left school as a teenager to help support his family. His natural gift for mechanics led him to competitive racing, where he became a famous driver competing in multiple Indianapolis 500 races.

When World War One began, Rickenbacker's lack of formal education initially barred him from flight training. Undeterred, he found a way in—a decision that would change the course of his life and American military aviation history. He recorded 26 aerial victories, making him the country's top pilot of the war and earning him the Medal of Honor.

Rickenbacker flew missions at altitudes reaching 20,000 feet without oxygen, piloting aircraft that seemed as deadly to their crews as to the enemy. In a 1956 interview, he reflected on the dangers with characteristic understatement, a trait common among the men of his generation.

After the war, his achievements continued. He became president of Eastern Airlines and briefly owned the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Throughout his life, he remained humble about his accomplishments, attributing his success to the opportunities afforded by his country.

Rickenbacker was a household name for most of his life. Since his death in 1973, his story has faded from public memory. Now, the National Medal of Honor Museum works to ensure today's generation can learn about his legacy—a reminder that many freedoms taken for granted rest on the foundation built by people like him.