Other Americans had died previous to the U.S. declaration of war .
Since Genet had been active in the Escadrille since before the Americans entry into the war , his death only a few days after the Americans declaration of war made him the first official Americans casualty .
Other Americans had died previous to the U.S. declaration of war , but since Genet had been active in the Escadrille since before the U.S. entry into the war , his death only a few days after the U.S. declaration of war made him the first official U.S. casualty .