Thomas Arthur Goddeau

The database page for Thomas Arthur Goddeau

21 Nov 2005 Tom was a very well liked young man who attended Saranac High School. He was one hell of a wrestler and an all-around great guy. Darrel (Buzzy) LaClair buzzy19471@netzero.com

A Note from The Virtual Wall On 11 June 1967 CH-46A BuNo 150270, belonging to HMM-265, went down just within the DMZ about 7 kilometers west-southwest of Con Thien. The aircraft was on a recon insertion and the unsurvivable crash resulted in 11 deaths - 4 aircrew, seven from the 3rd Force Recon Company. In the afternoon of 29 June 1967 Echo and Golf Companies, 2/9 Marines, departed Con Thien to search for the downed helicopter and recover the bodies of the dead Marines. Following a night march the two rifle companies arrived in the vicinity of Hill 174 on the morning of the 30th. At 0715 Echo discovered a bunker complex on the hilltop, occupied and defended by NVA troops. Echo lost one man killed and two wounded in the initial exchange of fires, then pulled back for medevac of the casualties and to allow an air strike on the NVA position. Echo 2/9 then renewed their assault on the bunkers while Golf 2/9 continued to the search area. The 2/9 Operations Log contains three entries for the recovery attempt: "0715 - J-108 - 300715H: E/2/9 discovered bunker complex at YD053685. Received S/A and casualties reported were 1 USMC/KIA and 2 USMC/WIA. Called air strike on area. Medevac requested for casualties." "0930 - J-110 - 300930H: E&G/2/9 - In movement to objective, E/2/9 made contact at approximately 0700H. One platoon was pinned down by S/A and automatic weapons fire. G/2/9 moved to objective and also received fire. Casualties reported were 4 FR/KIA, 9 FR/WIA, 5 VC/KIA (confirmed), 9 VC/KIA (probable). Area of contact was in vicinity of YD055685. Reference spot report 300715H." "1230 - J-113 - 301230H: 2/G/2/9 with Recon found area believed to be where chopper crashed. The area (YD059687) was completely burned out and no sign of activity. There were some old anti-aircraft positions in area. Searched area and found 1 USMC flyers flak jacket. Completed mission and returned." The four Americans killed in the recovery effort were: Cpl Thomas A. Goddeau, Morrisonville, NY; LCpl Richard H. Freudenthal, Alexandria, VA; HN Noel S. Nelson, St Paul, MN (H&S with Echo 2/9); and Pfc Christopher P. Johnson, Wyandotte, MI. CH-46A BuNo 150270 was piloted by Capt Curtis R. Bohlscheid. It went down at YD044684, about 1-1/2 kilometers south of the area searched by Golf 2/9. Although the bodies were not recovered at the time, the Department of Defense recently announced recovery and identification of the remains of one of the Recon team members - Pfc James E. Widener.

The point-of-contact for this memorial is a friend, Darrel (Buzzy) LaClair buzzy19471@netzero.com

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 21 Nov 2005
Last updated 01/04/2007