LT Robert V. Goodloe, Jr., USN

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting
The DISTINGUISHING FLYING CROSS to
LT Robert V. Goodloe, Jr., , United States Navy
For service as set forth in the following
CITATION

For heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight on 20 August 1966 while serving with Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron SIX, embarked in USS KEARDARGE (CVS-33), during a mission in support of combat operations in Southeast Asia against North Vietnamese forces, flying an unarmored antisubmarine warfare (ASW) helicopter, Lieutenant (then Lieutenant, Junior Grade) Goodloe and his crew proceeded to a position in the vicinity of Ron, North Vietnam to rescue a downed Air Force pilot.  After successfully avoiding enemy antiaircraft artillery defenses deployed along the penetration route, Lieutenant Goodloe and his crew resolutely continued inland toward the downed pilot and, upon sighting a distress signal, made an approach for pickup. Enemy ground forces had closed to within one hundred yards of the downed pilot’s position, causing the helicopter approach to be aborted while supporting attack aircraft fired cannon and rockets at the North Vietnamese to prevent them from advancing to capture the survivor.  When the enemy had been thoroughly mauled by the air-support aircraft, Lieutenant Goodloe’s helicopter approached and dropped a rescue seat to the Air Force pilot, drawing sporadic, enemy small-arms fire while hovering at tree-top level for the pickup.  The crew hurriedly lifted the downed pilot out of his precarious position and took him aboard the helicopter.  As the aircraft retired toward the coastline, alerted enemy antiaircraft artillery batteries commenced firing in a final determined effort to thwart the rescue.  Lieutenant Goodloe adroitly evaded the enemy barrage by changes in course and altitude, and escaped unscathed to the sea.   His persistence, courage, and heroism were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

                                                                                                                                          For the President

Return to Distinguished Flying Cross

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of the SECOND DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS to
LT Robert V. Goodloe, Jr., , United States Navy
For service as set forth in the following
CITATION

For heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight on 14 October 1966 as pilot of a helicopter in Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron SIX,  Search and Rescue Detachment, temporarily embarked in USS INTRPID (CVS-11).  After intercepting a distress signal from a United States Air Force fighter pilot, Lieutenant (then Lieutenant, Junior Grade) Goodloe and his crew crossed the heavily defended coast of North Vietnam and proceeded inland toward the pilot’s position.  Skirting known enemy antiaircraft positions under the supporting cover of the Navy RESCAP aircraft, the helicopter continued to a point sixty miles into the heart of North Vietnam, the deepest penetration into enemy territory made, at the time, by a Navy Search and Rescue helicopter.  Arriving at the scene, Lieutenant Goodloe reported to Air Force Search and Rescue units in the area, and stood by to render assistance.  An Air Force helicopter subsequently rescued the downed pilot and Lieutenant Goodloe retraced his way back over the sixty miles of defended territory to the coastline, drawing frequent  antiaircraft fire along the way.  By his persistence and courage while subjected to enemy fire , he contributed to the safety of his crew and to the successful rescue of a fellow airman from enemy territory, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

                                                                                                                                          For the President

Return to Distinguished Flying Cross