What Happened Next?

The United States awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award, to Eddie Rickenbacker for his 26 victories over German warplanes during World War I.
Eddie Rickenbacker drove in the first Indianapolis 500 Mile Race in 1911. In 1927, he bought the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for $700,000. During the twenty years that he owned it, he helped to make it the famous racecourse that it is today.
In 1938, Eddie purchased Eastern Air Lines and remained Chairman of the Board until the company merged with Trans World Airlines in 1963.
In 1942, while on a secret mission for the government, the plane carrying Eddie and several others crashed into the Pacific Ocean. They were lost at sea for 24 days before the Navy rescued them.
Eddie Rickenbacker was the father of two sons, David and William.