Richard Lee Goudy - KIA

Preferred Name: Dick
Date of Birth: March 14, 1938
Highest Military Grade: 0-3 – Captain
Hometown: Sharon Springs, KS
Headed West Date: August 9, 1965

Richard Lee Goudy had enlisted in the United States Air Force. In 196, he was serving with the 429th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 6251st Tactical Fighter Wing, 13th Air Force out of Bien Hoa AB, Vietnam.

On a strafing mission over SVN his aircraft was hit by gunfire. The official report reads ‘Goudy was reported missing and ultimately declared dead on August 9, 1965. Recorded circumstances attributed to: “Hostile Died While Missing, Air Loss Crash – Land, Fixed Wing – Pilot”. Incident location: South Vietnam, Pleiku province.'(1)

Chuck Miller, Lt. Col, USAF (Ret) wrote on The Wall of Faces, “Dick was a Pilot Training classmate of mine (UPT Class 62G, Moody AFB, Valdosta, GA). He graduated number 12 in the class; I was number 13. On the night before graduation assignment selection, I chose the last remaining F-100 assignment. On the day of actual selection, Dick chose the F-100, leaving me to choose an alternate. His choice ultimately cost him his life. “There, but for the grace of God, go I”.”

Richard is buried at Ft Leavenworth National Cemetery, and is honored on the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington DC. Name inscribed at VVM Wall, Panel 02e, Line 49.

Source: TheWallofFaces.org; HonorStates.org; POWnetwork.org