World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award posthumously (presented to his mother) from US Army Major General Robert B. Williams on June 18, 1945 at Fargo High School, Fargo, Oklahoma, for his actions as a 1st lieutenant pilot with the 729th Bombardment Squadron, 452nd Bombardment Group, US Army Air Force, on November 9, 1944, near Hattonville, France. He joined the US Army Air Force in 1943 and on November 9, 1944 he was flying a B-17 Flying Fortress bombing mission over Saarbrucken, Germany, when his aircraft was severely damaged and several of the crew wounded by enemy fire and attempted to try and fly the crippled aircraft back into Allied territory. Upon reaching friendly airspace, he and his co-pilot attempted a crash landing, but the aircraft exploded before touching down, killing all on board. He was also awarded the Air Medal. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "On a bombing run upon the marshaling yards at Saarbrücken a B-17 aircraft piloted by 1st. Lt. Gott was seriously damaged by antiaircraft fire. Three of the aircraft's engines were damaged beyond control and on fire; dangerous flames from the No. 4 engine were leaping back as far as the tail assembly. Flares in the cockpit were ignited and a fire raged therein, which was further increased by free-flowing fluid from damaged hydraulic lines. The interphone system was rendered useless. In addition to these serious mechanical difficulties the engineer was wounded in the leg and the radio operator's arm was severed below the elbow. Suffering from intense pain, despite the application of a tourniquet, the radio operator fell unconscious. Faced with the imminent explosion of his aircraft, and death to his entire crew, mere seconds before bombs away on the target, 1st. Lt. Gott and his copilot conferred. Something had to be done immediately to save the life of the wounded radio operator. The lack of a static line and the thought that his unconscious body striking the ground in unknown territory would not bring immediate medical attention forced a quick decision. 1st. Lt. Gott and his copilot decided to fly the flaming aircraft to friendly territory and then attempt to crash land. Bombs were released on the target and the crippled aircraft proceeded alone to Allied-controlled territory. When that had been reached, 1st. Lt. Gott had the copilot personally inform all crewmembers to bail out. The copilot chose to remain with 1st. Lt. Gott in order to assist in landing the bomber. With only one normally functioning engine, and with the danger of explosion much greater, the aircraft banked into an open field, and when it was at an altitude of 100 feet it exploded, crashed, exploded again and then disintegrated. All 3 crewmembers were instantly killed. 1st. Lt. Gott's loyalty to his crew, his determination to accomplish the task set forth to him, and his deed of knowingly performing what may have been his last service to his country was an example of valor at its highest."