made them a target for anti-aircraft fire. Lufbery saw Genet turn but lost him in the clouds. After Lufbery returned to the base, the squadron received a call that Genet had crashed on a road from the French lines. It was believed that Genet was wounded by the anti-aircraft fire and lost consciousness. Due to the crash, which occurred at full-engine power, his body was so badly damaged that it was unclear if he had been wounded. Since he had been complaining of feeling ill, he might have lost consciousness due to that rather than being wounded. Genet was buried with full military honors in the military cemetery at Ham, Somme, in a driving snowstorm. His final wish was to be buried wrapped in the French flag and have his coffin be covered with the French and American flags to "show that I died for the two countries". After the war, Genet, along with many other members of the Lafayette Escadrille were reburied at the La Fayette Escadrille Memorial Cemetery, in Marnes-la-Coquette, outside of Paris. As a result of his lie about his age to the passport officer, his commanding officer Georges Thenault believed that he was four years older than he actually was. In the letter to Genet's mother, he expressed shock that Genet was actually 24 years of age as he looked so young. In reality, Genet died at 20 years. The American entry into World War I took place on 6 April. While Genet was not a member of the US military at the time, he is widely considered to be the first American to be killed after the declaration of war between the US and Germany. Status with the United States Navy When Genet left for France in January 1915, he had left the Navy without permission. This decision weighed heavily on him as time wore on, since he could be classified as a deserter. The US was not yet formally in the war and his involvement in the French military was therefore not an official assignment by the US military. While the Navy did not attempt to seek Genet out, he felt unhappy over his absence, fearing the loss of his citizenship. The US was still neutral, being involved in the war might have been considered a treasonous act as it was a direct action in violation of US neutrality. Throughout his stay in France,