Born Sept 1892 in Newport, Tennessee, the son of James Chester Rockwell, a Baptist minister, and Loula Ayres. Attended the Virginia Military Institute from 1908 to 1909 then transferred to Washington and Lee University. He left college in 1911 and worked for an advertising agency in Atlanta until 1914. Left for France in August 1914, among the first three Americans to volunteer for service in the French Foreing Legion. Served in the Aisne and Champagne trenches during the winter of 1914 with Battalion C of the Second Marching Regiment of the Second Foreign Battalion. Severely wounded in the leg at Neuville-Saint-Vaast in May 1915. Following his recovery he served with the 1st Regiment, Moroccan Division and was again wounded. Unfit for continued army service, he requested a transfer to the Service Aeronautique, and began flight training in September 1915. In April he became one of the founding members of Lafayette Escadrille. In May 1916, he became the first American pilot to down an enemy plane. Flew in 147 dogfights. On patrol over Verdun, his wingman's gun jammed and Rockwell led him to a safe landing, then returned to the front lines. Witnesses saw him dive at a 2-man Aviatik from 10,000 feet, the gunner in the German observation plane shot Rockwell through the chest with an explosive round, killing him instantly. His Nieuport crashed between two lines of French trenches and his body was recovered by French artillerymen. He was buried with honors at the squadron's field at Luxeuil-les-Bains.