[1] Gedeon flew several missions in the European Theater of Operations as an officer of the United States Army Air Forces before being shot down over France.

During college at the University of Michigan, Gedeon became an All-American in track and field, and earned varsity letters in both football and baseball.

"[5] Some sources state that Joe Gedeon, a Major League Baseball player who was implicated in the Chicago Black Sox scandal[6] was Elmer's uncle, but this is unlikely—he may have been a more remote relative.

[8] Gedeon enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1935 where he earned varsity letters in three sports: baseball, football, and track and field.

[9][10][11] In March 1938, Gedeon tied the American indoor record in the 70-yard (64 m) high hurdles at the Big Ten meet in Chicago.

In 1937, a feature article on the Michigan team noted that, in addition to his abilities as an end, "Gedeon can pass and punt, and can run faster than any one on the squad.

Team captain Fred Janke recalled Gedeon was "a tall, skinny guy", at 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) and 196 pounds (89 kg; 14.0 st).

In February 1940, newspapers ran a wire service photograph of Gedeon hurdling over Senators first baseman Jimmy Wasdell, supposedly "by way of warming up".

The Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan owns a copy of an April 1941 fraternity newsletter with a note from Gedeon.

[1] On August 9, 1942, Gedeon was flying as the navigator in a B-25 which crashed into the middle of a swamp on take off from the municipal airport at Raleigh, North Carolina.

[5][9][23] Two crew members died in the crash,[22] and Gedeon spent 12 weeks in the hospital recovering from his broken ribs and burns to his back, hands, face and legs, some requiring skin grafts.

[1] First Lt. Gedeon was awarded the Soldier's Medal for heroism and bravery by Major General St. Clair Streett in what was described as "one of the most colorful ceremonies ever held at MacDill Field.

"[25] In July 1943, Gedeon was among personnel from the 21st BG that became the cadre of the 586th Bomb Squadron, 394th Bombardment Group United States Army Air Forces, formed to train with Martin B-26 Marauders.

On April 20, 1944, Gedeon piloted one of 36 B-26 bombers which departed RAF Boreham in the late afternoon on a special mission to attack a V-1 "buzz bomb" site being constructed at Esquerdes, a village in the Pas-de-Calais near Saint-Omer.

[9] Attacking after dusk from 12,000 feet (3,700 m), the group encountered intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire, and Gedeon's plane was hit by flak below the cockpit just after bombing.

[18][21] Gedeon was initially reported as missing in action and it was not until May 1945 his family received word his grave had been located in a small British Army cemetery at Saint-Pol, France.

As the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum proclaims: "Ballplayers, like every other American citizen, understand the importance of giving one's self for their country.