Obit of Goodwin Sr, Frederick C. - Comanche County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 8 May 2005 Return to Comanche County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/comanche/comanche.html ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ========================================================================== Lawton Constitution 2 Dec 2002 Goodwin Sr, Frederick C. Funeral for retired Col. Frederick C. Goodwin Sr., 84, Lawton, will be at 1:30 p.m. today at Becker Funeral Home Memorial Chapel. Col. Goodwin died Friday, Nov. 29, 2002, in Lawton. Burial with military honors will be at Post Cemetery, Fort Sill. He was born Oct. 25, 1918, in Gloucester, Mass., where he was raised and attended school. He later attended the Massachusetts Military Academy and all of the required service schools while on active duty. He married Estelle M. Oliver on Feb. 7, 1942, in Gloucester. She died Oct. 18, 1999. He was called to active duty at Camp Edward, Mass., as a second lieutenant on Jan. 16, 1941, with the 26th Yankee Division. During his 31 years of active duty he held many assignments. During World War II he served as a straight artilleryman, and after the war was assistant professor of military science and tactics at Yale University. He earned his wings in Army aviation and joined the Department of Combat Development at the Army Aviation School at Fort Rucker, Ala. He was instrumental in the development of the helicopter machine gun and rocket systems, which, combined with the further development of Air Mobility, Doctrine and Tactics, led to the organization of the Army's Air Mobile Division and ultimately the formation of the Army Aviation Branch. He spent a 4-1\2-year tour with civil aviation as the FAA administrator's Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) and Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) expert. His last tour on active duty was in a dual role at Fort Sill as the Field Artillery Center's aviation staff officer and also as commander of the Field Artillery Aviation Command. During that time he organized, trained and shipped 72 aviation units and elements to Vietnam. He retired in 1972 after 33 years of service and became a broker in commercial real estate. During these years he served on the Lawton Airport Board and the Military Affairs Committee with the Lawton Chamber of Commerce. He received numerous awards and decorations including: Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Distinguished Service Medal and Master Army Aviation Wings. His professional orders and other societies include the American Helicopter Society (AHS), Institute of Aeronautical Sciences (IAS), Helicopter Society of America (HSA), Military Order of World Wars (MOWW), Association of the United States Army (AUSA), Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA) and the Ancient Order of Saint Barbara. He also had scientific papers published by AHS and the Society of Automotive Engineers. Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Rick and Beverly Goodwin, Lawton; two daughters: Carole Goodwin, Louisville, Ky., and Michelle Goodwin, Austin, Texas; two grandchildren: Michael and Megan Goodwin; and a brother, retired Lt. Col. Norman W. Goodwin, California. He was preceded in death by a sister, Marjorie Goodwin Stevens. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor's choice. Sympathy cards may be sent to the family at www.beckerfuneral.com. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Comanche County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/comanche/comanche.html