Edward A Ostermann
Edward was born on the 23rd of November, 1882 in Columbus, Ohio, and attended school in Milo, Columbus, and Dayton. He went on to attend Ohio Northern University for two and half years and then enlisted in the US Army on the 21st of October, 1899. He was a musician and after serving a three year enlistment, he had reached the rank of Chief Trumpeter and was discharged. After about a year and a half, Edward reenlisted in the Army for another year and two years later, accepted a commission as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. His long career would take him to Cuba, Panama, China, Nicaragua, Mexico, Hawaii, the Philippines, bit it was his actions on the 24th of October, 1915 in Haiti that would earn him the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:
In company with members of the Fifteenth Company of Marines, all mounted, First Lieutenant Ostermann left Fort Liberte, Haiti, for a 6-day reconnaissance. After dark on the evening of 24 October 1915, while crossing the river in a deep ravine, the detachment was suddenly fired upon from 3 sides by about 400 Cacos concealed in bushes about 100 yards from the fort. The Marine detachment fought its way forward to a good position, which it maintained during the night, although subjected to a continuous fire from the Cacos. At daybreak, First Lieutenant Ostermann, in command of one of the three squads which advanced in three different directions, led his men forward, surprising and scattering the Cacos, and aiding in the capture of Fort Dipitie.
It was said that during this advance, “had one squad failed, not one man of the party would have lived to tell the story”. Several months later, Edward was wounded an returned to the US for hospitalization and treatment and he received his Medal of Honor two years later. In 1938, Edward became the Assistant Adjutant and Inspector of the Marine Corps and within a year was promoted to Brigadier General and Adjutant and Inspector. Edward had also requested a combat duty in World War 2, even willing to be demoted to a colonel to do so, but was denied with much a respect and appreciation from the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
Edward retired from the Marines on the 1st of January, 1943 because of a physical disability but was promoted to Major General due to his performance in combat. Edward Albert Ostermann died on the 18th of May, 1969 at the age of 86 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery; section 46, lot 521.
