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304:-in-the-Berkshires, as a camper from 1914 to 1916, and counselor in 1917 when he was a Harvard freshman. Swimming was one of his passions and he became captain of the Life Saving Crew and assistant swimming instructor. He was also an exceptional tennis player. He was popular among campers and received the 1915 Honor Emblem and 1916 Honor Button, the camp’s highest award. He is described in the camp newspaper
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During his time abroad, Becket director, Henry W. Gibson corresponded with Putnam until the former received a returned letter in his name, with the words ‘deceased’ written on the envelope. Gibson never opened it, and later used it to illustrate in the camp chapel service: we must never delay telling
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He wrote to Henry Gibson, director of Camp Becket-in-the-Berkshires, where Putnam had been a camper and counsellor, "Can you imagine anyone falling 20,000 feet, nearly four miles, smashing a machine to kindling wood and only getting a broken tooth out of it all? No! Well, I am afraid you are going to
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as “Modest and unassuming, yet genial and a good mixer, of high moral standard; he was without question the most popular boy in the camp.” Becket director, Henry W. Gibson affirms that: “The sense of fair play, of consideration for the other fellow, of physical bravery, of moral courage—all of these
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As a gesture of respect, his aviators gave him a dinner in Paris, all 150 under his command. Wine was to be served and he abstained from alcohol, to which end he turned over his glass, and the others followed suit. With the 139th, Putnam scored his last three victories before he was killed in
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Henry Gibson recalled that Putnam approached him at his tent and said, "I am going across the seas to get in the big fight." He did indeed, by way of a cattle boat, and joined the French
Foreign Legion on May 31, 1917. He was transferred to the air service and trained at
366:. He was shot in the heart. He was scheduled to return home before his death. The official cablegram read, "Lieutenant David Endicott Putnam, killed September 12, 1918; buried September 14, at Toul in a field golden with buttercups, beside Luftbury, Blair, and Thaw."
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Just before his own death, Putnam remarked to his mother in a letter in light of a death of a friend, "Isn’t it glorious to give up your life for the great cause? What more could one ask?"
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Putnam shot down thirteen confirmed planes, but unconfirmed totals range from twenty-six to thirty in German territory. He was decorated with the
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as a first lieutenant and briefly assumed command of the 134th Aero
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qualities were given a chance to express themselves in his camp life.”
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460:. wwiaviation.com (An illustrated History of World War One).
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When the United States entered the war, Putnam joined the
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Dave DeLuca. Becket-Chimney Corner YMCA: 2003. Pgs. 42-43
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in 1917. In June of the following year, he joined the
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List of World War I flying aces from the United States
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try, for that is just what I did yesterday morning."
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542:Harry Dempsey. Osprey Publishing, 2001.
458:"American Aces of WW1 - David E. Putnam"
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41:David Endicott Putnam
382:(posthumously), the
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223:Médaille militaire
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82:September 12, 1918
614:List of victories
591:978-0-948817-54-0
556:978-1-84176-375-0
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240:flying ace
157:Lieutenant
110:Allegiance
65:1898-12-10
360:SPAD XIII
358:Putnam’s
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