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Samuel Reber, officer in charge of the Aviation Section of the Signal Corps. Furthermore, it was known that Captain Cowan and Colonel Reber had wanted to get rid of Captain
Goodier, and had succeeded in having him relieved from the aviation service while he was in Letterman Hospital recovering from injuries received in a plane accident. After an
investigation the Judge Advocate General decided that the charges could not be sustained, and Colonel Goodier then was court-martialed for his part in filing them. It would have been impossible for Captain Geiger not to have been involved in the conflict and dissatisfaction that was brought about by non-flying officers in command of the Aviation Section of the Signal Corps. Nothing was being done to correct the abuses and it may have contributed to his making a career decision that spring, however there could have been another reason. He was seriously interested in flying, but it was still a very dangerous profession with a casualty rate of twenty-five percent, this would have caused great concern for any wife. On May 27, 1915 Frances had given birth to a healthy baby girl, whom they named Gretchen. Possibly in consideration for his wife and their new daughter, both dependent on his staying alive, he applied for reassignment back to the Coast Artillery. On June 16, 1915 he was relieved from duty with the Aviation Section of the Signal Corps and returned to duty with the Coast Artillery at Fort Worden, Washington. Colonel Goodier was later found guilty of conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline, but it is interesting to note that on January 5, 1916 a resolution was introduced in the Senate calling for an investigation of the Aviation Section. It was passed by the Senate on March 16, 1916 and by July both Captain Cowan and Colonel Reber had been relieved from duty in the Aviation Section. World War One On April 6, 1917, the United States declared war on Germany. Because of the frenzied activity that accompanied America's entry into war, the Aviation Section of the Signal Corps was desperate for qualified officers like Captain Geiger. That same month, he was reassignment to the Aviation Section of the Signal Corps and sent to the Balloon School at Fort Omaha, Nebraska, for lighter-than-air training. He completed the course for Balloon Observer on July 24, 1917, but did not receive a lighter-than-air rating certificate because he was already rated an airplane pilot. He was promoted to major on September 27, 1917 and remained at Fort Omaha until December 17, 1917 when he was detailed to the Office of the Chief Signal Officer (Flying Division), Washington, D.C. On February 26, 1918, he received a wartime promotion (temporary) to Lieutenant Colonel and later detailed to the Office of Director of Military Aeronautics. On May 24, 1918 the Aviation Section of the Signal Corps was re-designated the Air Service. Lt. Colonel Geiger requested overseas duty and on August 26, 1918 sailed for France. Arriving in France on September 3, 1918, he reported for duty with the office, Chief of Air Service, Balloon Section, American Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F.) stationed at Tours under the command of Colonel Charles deF. Chandler. He participated in the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne Offensives. In October he went to the Balloon School at Souge and was appointed Balloon Group Commander, 5th Corps, 1st Army. After the armistice in November he returned to the office, Chief of Air Service, Balloon Section, General Headquarters, A.E.F., Chaumont. |
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