World War II Honoree

Vincent N. Goodrich

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Syracuse, New York

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ATTEMPTED TO ENLIST IN THE MARINE CORPS AT AGE 16 WITHOUT A BIRTH CERTIFICATE BUT WAS REJECTED. ENLISTED IN THE NAVY ON HIS 17TH BIRTHDAY ON SEPTEMBER 22, 1944, BEFORE GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL. AFTER BOOT CAMP, ASSIGNED TO THE DESTROYER ESCORT USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS DE-413, WHICH WAS NEWLY COMMISSIONED. TOOK PART IN THE SHAKEDOWN CRUISE OFF BERMUDA IN MAY-JUNE 1944. DEPARTED NORFOLK, VIRGINIA ON JULY 22, 1944 AND TRANSITED THE PANAMA CANAL ON JULY 27TH EN ROUTE TO JOIN THE PACIFIC FLEET. ARRIVED AT PEARL HARBOR ON AUGUST 10, 1944. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER AS A SONARMAN 3RD CLASS WHOSE DUTIES INCLUDED SONAR, RADAR AND SURFACE PLOTTING OF TARGETS, AS WELL AS BRIDGE WATCH AND HELMSMAN TASKS. INVOLVED IN TRAINING EXERCISES AND CONVOY ESCORT DUTIES TO AND FROM ENIWETOK ATOLL IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS BEFORE JOINING IN OPERATIONS TO INVADE LEYTE IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. SHORTLY AFTER DAWN ON OCTOBER 24, 1944, WHILE PROTECTING AMERICAN ESCORT CARRIERS OFF SAMAR IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, CAME UNDER FIRE BY JAPANESE NAVAL FORCES. HE MANNED HIS BATTLE STATION IN THE COMBAT INFORMATION CENTER TO RECORD RANGES AND BEARINGS TO TARGETS. THE SHIP WAS HIT BY A SALVO OF SHELLS AND THE ORDER TO ABANDON SHIP WAS GIVEN. WHILE EXITING THE REAR OF THE PILOTHOUSE, IT WAS HIT BY A SHELL AND HE WAS KNOCKED BACK SOME 15 FEET. HE RECOVERED AND WENT OVERBOARD INTO A RAFT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE VESSEL SANK. A TOTAL OF 120 SURVIVORS WENT INTO THE WATER; 90 SAILORS DIED DURING THE BATTLE. HE AND HIS SHIPMATES REMAINED IN THE OILY WATER, AVOIDING SHARKS, WITH LITTLE FOOD AND WATER UNTIL RESCUED SOME 50 HOURS LATER BY THE AMPHIBIOUS COMMAND SHIP USS FREMONT APA-44. TRANSFERRED TO THE SS LURLINE NEAR HOLLANDIA, NEW GUINEA, AND AFTER A BRIEF STOP IN AUSTRALIA, SAILED TO SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. GIVEN A MILITARY SURVIVOR'S 30-DAY LEAVE AND THEN RETURNED TO ACTIVE SERVICE UNTIL HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN MARCH 1946. AWARDED THE NAVY PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS SHIP AGAINST AN ARMED ENEMY, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE SERVICE STAR (LEYTE OPERATION), WWII VICTORY MEDAL, PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION AND PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL. CONTINUED IN NAVAL SERVICE AFTER THE WAR AND RETIRED WITH THE RANK OF COMMANDER.