Michael Anthony Gooden

Private First Class
E CO, 2ND BN, 1ST MARINES, 1ST MARDIV
United States Marine Corps
20 August 1946 - 15 July 1966
Bellflower, California
Panel 09E Line 024

1ST MARDIV

1ST MARINES
Purple Heart, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign

The database page for Michael Anthony Gooden

16 Dec 2002

His name is Michael Anthony Gooden.

When I was young, he was my best friend.
I looked up to him, and when he entered the Marine Corps
he became my idol.
I was six.

He died in Quang Tri.

You did what you felt that you had to do.
Duty called.
You have honored our country.

From his nephew,
Bob Smith
E-Mail may be forwarded via the
Webmaster@VirtualWall.org

A Note from The Virtual Wall

On 15 July 1966 an air assault was conducted into Landing Zone Crow, about 5 miles northeast of the Rockpile in Quang Tri Province. Since LZ Crow was marginally large enough to hold four CH-46s at a time, the 24-ship assault force was divided into six sections of four aircraft each. The first two sections landed witout incident, but one CH-46 from the third section landed long into a tree line but came to rest outside the LZ area. Disaster struck the fifth section when the rotor disks of two CH-46s overlapped causing severe damage to both aircraft and killing two Marines on the ground.

A CH-46A (tail number 152500) from HMM-265 was detailed to carry a reaction force to guard the three downed CH-46s at LZ Crow. According to an official USMC source

"At 1815, while inserting a reaction company to guard the three CH-46s in LZ Crow, HMM-265's EP-171, ... was hit at 1,500 feet by 12.7mm fire. Photos taken from the ground show smoke coming from the cockpit windows and flames from the rear of the aircraft. When they tried landing on Crow, smoke filled the cockpit so no one could see. They overshot the LZ and crashed ..."

Fifteen men died in the crash:

  • HMM-265, MAG-16
    • Sgt Robert R. Telfer, Fonda, NY

  • A Co, 1st Eng Bn
  • B Co, 3rd Eng Bn
    • Cpl James M. Reid, Philadelphia, PA

  • E Co, 2nd Bn, 1st Marines
    • SSgt Herolin T. Simmons, Ahoskie, NC (Silver Star, 5/29/66)
    • Cpl Orson H. Case, Johnstown, NY
    • HM3 Andrew P. Chamaj, Scenery Hill, PA
    • Cpl Paul R. Chambers, Scottsboro, AL
    • Pfc James W. Cherrick, New York, NY
    • Pfc Michael A. Cunnion, Mount Vernon, NY
    • Pfc Michael A. Gooden, Bellflower, CA
    • Pfc Carl W. Schloemer, Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO
    • Pfc Gerald E. Stubstad, Chicago, IL

  • H&S Co, 2nd Bn, 1st Marines
    • HM3 Mark V. Dennis, Miamisburg, OH

  • H&S Co, 3rd Bn, 4th Marines
    • Cpl William J. Lilly, Rowayton, CT
    • HN John N. Morris, Meldrim, GA
Meanwhile, three more Marines died in the ground fighting:
  • H&S Co, 3rd Bn, 4th Marines
    • SSgt Paul G. Hendrix, Hartselle, AL

  • K Co, 3rd Bn, 4th Marines
Additional Information is available on the
Pop-A-Smoke site


The point-of-contact for this memorial is
his nephew,
Bob Smith
E-Mail may be forwarded via the
Webmaster@VirtualWall.org



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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 16 Dec 2002
Last updated 08/06/2006