Name Edward Fulmer Unit 82nd Airborne Division Rank Second lieutenant | ||
Born 16 April 1919 (age 104)
East Syracuse, New York, New York, U.S. ( 1919-04-16 ) Battles/wars Operation Market Garden Awards Military William Order, Knight 4th class Service/branch United States Army Air Forces | ||
Allegiance United States of America Battles and wars Operation Market Garden | ||
Edward Simons Fulmer (born April 16, 1919) is a former officer and pilot of the United States Army Air Forces. Fulmer is one of the few living knights of the Dutch Military William Order.
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Military career
Second Lieutenant Fulmer was one of the pilots who descended with gliders in Operation Market Garden. During battles of the 82nd Airborne Division in the area of Nijmegen from September 17 until October 4, 1944, Fulmer, in the words of the royal order, "distinguished himself in battle by committing the following excellent acts of bravery, planning and loyalty:
On September 18, 1944, he served as second pilot of a Douglas C-47 during the air raid in the Netherlands, also known as operation 'Market Garden'. The airplane of Lieutenant Fulmer, carrying an entire unit of parachute troops and an amount of very explosive substances, was heavily damaged by defensive fire from the Wehrmacht, which caused the pilot to lose consciousness and caused a heavy fire. Taking over the wheel of the machine, he stood firmly at his post, while parachute troops and the crew could save themselves by jumping out of the plane. Despite serious burns to the face, neck, back, and arms, he managed to place the machine on the land in an heroic attempt to save the unconscious pilot's life. Lieutenant Fulmer showed extraordinary heroism during this act and did not take his own safety into account."
Knighthood
On October 17, 1946, by Royal Decree, Fulmer was knighted by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, receiving the Knight fourth class of the Military William Order. The Order is the highest and oldest military honour of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, bestowed for "performing excellent acts of Bravery, Leadership and Loyalty in battle". As of February 2015, Fulmer is one of only four knights still living.