Edward Albert Ostermann

Edward Albert Ostermann
General Edward A. Ostermann
Born	(1882-11-23)November 23, 1882 Columbus, Ohio
Died	May 18, 1969(1969-05-18) (aged 86)
Place of burial	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps (1907–1943) United States Army (1899–1902, 1904–1905)
Years of service	1899 – 1902, 1904 – 1905 1907 – 1943
Rank	Chief Trumpeter (Army) Major General (Marine Corps)
Unit	2nd Marine Regiment
Battles/wars	United States occupation of Haiti  • Battle of Fort Dipitie
Awards	Medal of Honor Purple Heart

Edward Albert Ostermann (November 23, 1882 – May 18, 1969) was a United States Marine Corps major general who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the U.S. occupation of Haiti.

Osterman began his military career in the United States Army in 1899, was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1907, and retired as a major general in 1943.

Ostermann was born in Columbus, Ohio, on November 23, 1882. He attended the public schools of Milo, Columbus, and Dayton, Ohio. After attending Ohio Northern University at Ada for two and a half years, he enlisted in the U.S. Army on October 21, 1899, and served as a musician. Discharged as chief trumpeter at the expiration of a three-year enlistment, he remained a civilian for about one and a half years and then reenlisted in the Army on April 28, 1904. He was honorably discharged by purchase on November 12, 1905, as a chief trumpeter with the First Band, Artillery Corps.

Ostermann accepted a second lieutenant's commission in the Marine Corps on March 20, 1907, and served continuously until his retirement as a major general on January 1, 1943. His long career took him to Cuba, Panama, China, Nicaragua, Mexico, Haiti, Hawaii, and the Philippines.

He was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1917 for his actions during the capture of Fort Dipitie, Haiti, on October 24, 1915. He was part of a mounted Marine detachment sent out from Fort Liberté to reconnoiter towards Fort Dipitie. As the group crossed a river in a deep ravine on the night of October 24, they were suddenly fired upon from three sides by about 400 Haitian rebels, known as "Cacos", concealed in the bushes about 100 yards (91 m) from Fort Dipitie. The Marines fought their way forward to a good position and maintained it throughout the night despite continuous hostile fire. At dawn, three squads of Marines commanded by Ostermann, Captain William P. Upshur, and Gunnery Sergeant Daniel Daly advanced in three different directions, surprising and scattering the Cacos in all directions. Upshur's and Ostermann's squads then captured the fort with a total of 13 Marines. Fort Dipitie was demolished and burned and the garrison was forced to flee. "These men were in pitch darkness surrounded by ten times their number and fighting for their lives…" a description relates, "…Had one squad failed, not one man of the party would have lived to tell the story…" Ostermann, Upshur (who also lived to become a general), and Daly (the recipient of two Medals of Honor) all received the Medal of Honor for that battle.