Name:
Edmond Charles Clinton Genet
Rank:
Sergeant
Serial Number:
Unit:
Lafayette Escadrille
Date of Death:
1917-04-16
State:
New York
Cemetery:
Lafayette Escadrille Memorial, Marnes la Coqu
Plot:
Row:
Grave:
Decoration:
Comments:
The first American flier to die in WWI after the US entered the war. Born Ossining, NY, shot down by anti-aircraft artillery on 16 Apr 17. Genet was the great great grandson of Edmond-Charles Genêt, also known as Citizen Genêt, the French Ambassador to the United States shortly before the French Revolution who is mostly remembered for being the cause of an international incident known as the Citizen Genêt Affair. Edmond Genet sailed for France at the end of January, 1915 to join the French Foreign Legion while on leave from the US Navy. JOined the Lafayette Escadrille on January 22d 1917 . He was 20 years old at the time of his death.