Captain Gooden was a pilot of a HRS-4 Sikorski Helicopter from Marine Helicopter Observation Squadron 6, 1st Marine Air Wing. On 7 February 1952, during a rescue mission near Kudong, Korea, his helicopter was hit by enemy fire and exploded in mid-air. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

Gooden was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.