April 15, 1917 to April 20, 1944
Elmer was quite an athlete. He ran track and played football at
the University of Michigan from 1936 to 1939. During that time, he
played end for the Wolverines, playing on the same team that featured
future president Gerald Ford. It was also the year Fritz Crisler
introduced the winger helmet that is one of the most recognizable in
sports. Elmer was a fast end. In March 1938, at the Big Ten Indoor
meet in Chicago he tied an American record in the 70 yard dash. Later
that year, at the Illinois relays, he tied a world record . He was an
All American in track in 1938. He played two years for the Wolverine 9,
playing first base and outfield and batting .320.
Elmer turned down a chance to compete in the 1940 Olympics to sign
with the Washington Senators in 1939. Gedeon was called up in late
September 1939. He played in five games and had three hits, all coming
in the same game against the Cleveland Indians. In 1940 he started the
season in the minors, but was again called up in September although he
didn't appear in any games.
During his off seasons, Elmer served as an assistant football coach
at Michigan. Elmer looked poised to have a great 1941 season when he
was drafted in January 1941 Gedeon was originally assigned to the
Cavalry Replacement depot at Fort Riley Kansas. In October, he was
accepted for pilot training despite his size (six-four, 196) He was
commissioned a second lieutenant and underwent bombing training at
McDill Field in Tampa. He was serving as a navigator when his plane
crashed after take off from Raleigh, North Carolina. Although suffering
from burns and broken ribs (which would require a 12 week hospital stay
and multiple skin grafts, he crawled back into the plane to rescue a
fellow crewman. Two others died in the crash. He was awarded the
Soldier's Medal for his action and promoted to first lieutenant. He
February, 1944 he was sent to England as part f the Ninth Air Force.
Elmer flew his first mission against Nazi occupied France on March 23,
1940.
On April 20, 1944, flying his 30th mission, his plane was hit by
flak just below the cockpit. His co-pilot managed to parachute from the
plane but reported no other chutes. Gedeon was listed as missing in
action until May 1945 when his grave was discovered in a British Army
cemetery in Saint-Pol, France. His body was later removed and
re-interred in Arlington National Cemetery. After the war a scholarship
was established in his name at Michigan. He was inducted into the
University of Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1983. ONE
HELLUVA WOLVERINE!!!!
--submitted by Tom "Crash" Davis--
No comments:
Post a Comment