Harold Ernest Goettler was born on July 21, 1890, in Chicago, Illinois. He was the son of Joseph Goettler and Gertrude Essellmann Goettler. He attended the University of Chicago.

1Lt Goettler was killed in action on October 6, 1918, while aerially locating the Lost Battalion of the 77th Division during World War I. He died of wounds resulting from German fire from the ground during the flight. For his actions, he posthumously received the Medal of Honor.

. 1Lt Goettler is now buried in the Graceland Cemetery, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. The Harold E. Goettler Political Institutions Prize awarded to University of Chicago undergraduates is named in his honor.

Medal of Honor citation:
1st. Lt. Goettler, with his observer, 2d Lt. Erwin R. Bleckley, 130th Field Artillery, left the airdrome late in the afternoon on their second trip to drop supplies to a battalion of the 77th Division which had been cut off by the enemy in the Argonne Forest. Having been subjected on the first trip to violent fire from the enemy, they attempted on the second trip to come still lower in order to get the packages even more precisely on the designated spot. In the course of this mission the plane was brought down by enemy rifle and machinegun fire from the ground, resulting in the instant death of 1st. Lt. Goettler. In attempting and performing this mission 1st. Lt. Goettler showed the highest possible contempt of personal danger, devotion to duty, courage and valor.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, en.wikipedia.org