SFC Orange Gooding, Korean War Veteran, Vietnam War Veteran. Born in Kinston, Lenoir County, North Carolina.
Sergeant First Class Orange Gooding was a casualty of the Vietnam War. As a member of the Army, SFC Gooding served our country until March 7th, 1969 in Darlac, South Vietnam. He was 40 years old and was married. Orange died from a heart attack. His body was recovered. Orange was born on March 27th, 1928 in Kinston, North Carolina. SFC Gooding is on panel 30W, line 064 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. He served our country for 18 years.
You were one of the brave that answered the call. You honored us by your service and sacrifice. Your countrymen now honor you each time we stand and sing the words "..the land of the free and the home of the brave". Rest in peace and honor. A fellow Vietnam Vet, [email protected]
In 1965 I was drafted and sent to Fort Polk, Louisiana where I met Orange Gooding. Orange was my Drill Sargent throughout Basic Training. He prepared us for war and was relentless in his turning us from soft civilian boys into toughened combat-ready men. Well, as combat-ready as anyone that has never been in combat could be. As a "problem" recruit I bucked the transformation as only a tragically hip 19 year old surfer from California can do. Obviously, Orange and I got to know each other very well. In fact, I would "drop" immediately upon seeing Orange and start doing push-ups. He'd always laugh as I told him I was just building up a reserve for all the upcoming screw-ups. He'd laugh and say, "Frost, you gonna have me up for manslaughter". The last night of Basic, Orange came in my barracks, sat on my bunk and shared his bottle with me. He cried, saying he hoped he had prepared us properly for what lay ahead. He loved us. He knew something we, in our youth, didn't know. He knew how hard what we were about to get into would be, and that some of us wouldn't be coming back. I was one of the lucky ones. I'm sure a lot of us from Orange Gooding platoon did—in fact only 3 out of our entire company didn't. This is a testament to the quality of training Orange Gooding gave to me, and others like myself. I learned of Orange's death just last year via the Internet...and I cried all night. I went to the Wall, found Orange's name and did the only thing I knew to do. I cried and "gave him twenty". He was a great man that is missed. Tom Frost, 205th Ordinance Platoon(1st Cav Support)July 66-July-67, An Khe, RVN, [email protected]
He is the Son of Mr Ben Gooding and Mrs Alice Strayhorn Gooding of Kinston, NC
He served with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, USARV.
Some of his Awards and Decoration include the The Combat Infantryman's Badge (Second Award), The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Army Commendation Medal, The Korean Service Medal, The ROK War Service Medal, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal(Second Award) and The Good Conduct Medal(6th Award).
Sergeant First Class Orange Gooding was a casualty of the Vietnam War. As a member of the Army, SFC Gooding served our country until March 7th, 1969 in Darlac, South Vietnam. He was 40 years old and was married. Orange died from a heart attack. His body was recovered. Orange was born on March 27th, 1928 in Kinston, North Carolina. SFC Gooding is on panel 30W, line 064 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. He served our country for 18 years.
You were one of the brave that answered the call. You honored us by your service and sacrifice. Your countrymen now honor you each time we stand and sing the words "..the land of the free and the home of the brave". Rest in peace and honor. A fellow Vietnam Vet, [email protected]
In 1965 I was drafted and sent to Fort Polk, Louisiana where I met Orange Gooding. Orange was my Drill Sargent throughout Basic Training. He prepared us for war and was relentless in his turning us from soft civilian boys into toughened combat-ready men. Well, as combat-ready as anyone that has never been in combat could be. As a "problem" recruit I bucked the transformation as only a tragically hip 19 year old surfer from California can do. Obviously, Orange and I got to know each other very well. In fact, I would "drop" immediately upon seeing Orange and start doing push-ups. He'd always laugh as I told him I was just building up a reserve for all the upcoming screw-ups. He'd laugh and say, "Frost, you gonna have me up for manslaughter". The last night of Basic, Orange came in my barracks, sat on my bunk and shared his bottle with me. He cried, saying he hoped he had prepared us properly for what lay ahead. He loved us. He knew something we, in our youth, didn't know. He knew how hard what we were about to get into would be, and that some of us wouldn't be coming back. I was one of the lucky ones. I'm sure a lot of us from Orange Gooding platoon did—in fact only 3 out of our entire company didn't. This is a testament to the quality of training Orange Gooding gave to me, and others like myself. I learned of Orange's death just last year via the Internet...and I cried all night. I went to the Wall, found Orange's name and did the only thing I knew to do. I cried and "gave him twenty". He was a great man that is missed. Tom Frost, 205th Ordinance Platoon(1st Cav Support)July 66-July-67, An Khe, RVN, [email protected]
He is the Son of Mr Ben Gooding and Mrs Alice Strayhorn Gooding of Kinston, NC
He served with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, USARV.
Some of his Awards and Decoration include the The Combat Infantryman's Badge (Second Award), The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Army Commendation Medal, The Korean Service Medal, The ROK War Service Medal, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal(Second Award) and The Good Conduct Medal(6th Award).
SFC Orange Gooding, Korean War Veteran, Vietnam War Veteran. Born in Kinston, Lenoir County, North Carolina.
Sergeant First Class Orange Gooding was a casualty of the Vietnam War. As a member of the Army, SFC Gooding served our country until March 7th, 1969 in Darlac, South Vietnam. He was 40 years old and was married. Orange died from a heart attack. His body was recovered. Orange was born on March 27th, 1928 in Kinston, North Carolina. SFC Gooding is on panel 30W, line 064 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. He served our country for 18 years.
You were one of the brave that answered the call. You honored us by your service and sacrifice. Your countrymen now honor you each time we stand and sing the words "..the land of the free and the home of the brave". Rest in peace and honor. A fellow Vietnam Vet, [email protected]
In 1965 I was drafted and sent to Fort Polk, Louisiana where I met Orange Gooding. Orange was my Drill Sargent throughout Basic Training. He prepared us for war and was relentless in his turning us from soft civilian boys into toughened combat-ready men. Well, as combat-ready as anyone that has never been in combat could be. As a "problem" recruit I bucked the transformation as only a tragically hip 19 year old surfer from California can do. Obviously, Orange and I got to know each other very well. In fact, I would "drop" immediately upon seeing Orange and start doing push-ups. He'd always laugh as I told him I was just building up a reserve for all the upcoming screw-ups. He'd laugh and say, "Frost, you gonna have me up for manslaughter". The last night of Basic, Orange came in my barracks, sat on my bunk and shared his bottle with me. He cried, saying he hoped he had prepared us properly for what lay ahead. He loved us. He knew something we, in our youth, didn't know. He knew how hard what we were about to get into would be, and that some of us wouldn't be coming back. I was one of the lucky ones. I'm sure a lot of us from Orange Gooding platoon did—in fact only 3 out of our entire company didn't. This is a testament to the quality of training Orange Gooding gave to me, and others like myself. I learned of Orange's death just last year via the Internet...and I cried all night. I went to the Wall, found Orange's name and did the only thing I knew to do. I cried and "gave him twenty". He was a great man that is missed. Tom Frost, 205th Ordinance Platoon(1st Cav Support)July 66-July-67, An Khe, RVN, [email protected]
He is the Son of Mr Ben Gooding and Mrs Alice Strayhorn Gooding of Kinston, NC
He served with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, USARV.
Some of his Awards and Decoration include the The Combat Infantryman's Badge (Second Award), The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Army Commendation Medal, The Korean Service Medal, The ROK War Service Medal, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal(Second Award) and The Good Conduct Medal(6th Award).
Sergeant First Class Orange Gooding was a casualty of the Vietnam War. As a member of the Army, SFC Gooding served our country until March 7th, 1969 in Darlac, South Vietnam. He was 40 years old and was married. Orange died from a heart attack. His body was recovered. Orange was born on March 27th, 1928 in Kinston, North Carolina. SFC Gooding is on panel 30W, line 064 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. He served our country for 18 years.
You were one of the brave that answered the call. You honored us by your service and sacrifice. Your countrymen now honor you each time we stand and sing the words "..the land of the free and the home of the brave". Rest in peace and honor. A fellow Vietnam Vet, [email protected]
In 1965 I was drafted and sent to Fort Polk, Louisiana where I met Orange Gooding. Orange was my Drill Sargent throughout Basic Training. He prepared us for war and was relentless in his turning us from soft civilian boys into toughened combat-ready men. Well, as combat-ready as anyone that has never been in combat could be. As a "problem" recruit I bucked the transformation as only a tragically hip 19 year old surfer from California can do. Obviously, Orange and I got to know each other very well. In fact, I would "drop" immediately upon seeing Orange and start doing push-ups. He'd always laugh as I told him I was just building up a reserve for all the upcoming screw-ups. He'd laugh and say, "Frost, you gonna have me up for manslaughter". The last night of Basic, Orange came in my barracks, sat on my bunk and shared his bottle with me. He cried, saying he hoped he had prepared us properly for what lay ahead. He loved us. He knew something we, in our youth, didn't know. He knew how hard what we were about to get into would be, and that some of us wouldn't be coming back. I was one of the lucky ones. I'm sure a lot of us from Orange Gooding platoon did—in fact only 3 out of our entire company didn't. This is a testament to the quality of training Orange Gooding gave to me, and others like myself. I learned of Orange's death just last year via the Internet...and I cried all night. I went to the Wall, found Orange's name and did the only thing I knew to do. I cried and "gave him twenty". He was a great man that is missed. Tom Frost, 205th Ordinance Platoon(1st Cav Support)July 66-July-67, An Khe, RVN, [email protected]
He is the Son of Mr Ben Gooding and Mrs Alice Strayhorn Gooding of Kinston, NC
He served with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, USARV.
Some of his Awards and Decoration include the The Combat Infantryman's Badge (Second Award), The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Army Commendation Medal, The Korean Service Medal, The ROK War Service Medal, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal(Second Award) and The Good Conduct Medal(6th Award).
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
