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Roscoe Fletcher Good |
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Graduate, U.S. Naval Academy, Class of 1920 |
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Biography: | ||||
Roscoe Fletcher Good Roscoe Fletcher Good was born on 13 March 1897 in Fostoria, OH. He graduated from Fostoria High School in 1914 and, for the next two years, he was employed as a reporter and advertising solicitor for The Fostoria Daily Times. Good received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1916. However, before his training at the Academy was completed, he was drafted into service during World War I. He then served for six months aboard the USS Wyoming, and the USS New Jersey, as part of the Atlantic fleet. He returned to the Academy and graduated with his class in 1920, ranked fourth in a class of 452. He was also editor of the Academy yearbook "Lucky Bag." For three years after leaving the Academy, he served aboard the USS Columbia. He then attended submarine training and, after completion, was assigned to the USS O-12 in August 1921. His sea duty continued as Commanding Officer of USS L-9 and as Executive Officer of USS S-21. In 1922, he became Commanding Officer of USS S-17 in Panama. In June 1924, Good began postgraduate instruction in Diesel Engineering at the Naval Academy and continued at Columbia University, where he received his MS degree in 1926. After three more years of submarine duty he reported to the Bureau of Engineering. From 1930-32 he was Submarine Superintendent at the New York Navy Yard. He then joined Submarine Division 10 in the USS S-37 until May 1935 in the Far East. After two years as Officer in Charge of the Internal Combustion Engine Laboratory at the Naval Engineering Experimental Station, Annapolis, he reported for duty as Navigator of the USS Arkansas. Good served on the USS Tuscaloosa for a year and then served on the staff of Commander, Cruise Battalion Force, in June 1939. He was transferred to the staff of Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet, in February 1941, as Assistant Operations Officer, with duty station in HI. In August 1943, Good reported for staff duty with Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations. He was assigned to the USS Washington in October 1944 and took command of her a month later. Rear Admiral Good became Commander of Cruiser Division Six in July 1945. In November of that year he reported to the Office of Chief of Naval Operations as Head of the Fleet Operation (Logistics), stationed in Germany. On 23 March 1953, Good was promoted to Vice Admiral. Three years later, Vice Admiral Good reported as Commander, Naval Forces Far East, (later Japan). Upon his retirement in March 1958, he was advanced in rank to four-star Admiral. * * The Act of Congress of 4 March 1925, allowed Navy officers to be promoted one grade upon retirement if they had been specially commended for performance of duty in actual combat. These promotions were colloquially known as "tombstone promotions" because they conferred the prestige of the higher rank but not the additional retirement pay, so their only practical benefit was to allow recipients to engrave a loftier title on their business cards and tombstones. An Act of Congress on 23 February 1942, enabled tombstone promotions to three- and four-star grades. Medals and Awards Legion of Merit with Combat "Valor" Device (2 Awards) In Retirement After retiring from the Navy, Good and his wife, Bess, settled in Foley, AL, where several other naval officer friends also lived. While a civilian he worked as a civil and mechanical engineer. He had expected to do some fishing and enjoy retirement, but his health failed and he and Bess were forced to move to McLean, VA. Personal On 2 August 1919, Roscoe Good married Bess Louise Owen, also from Fostoria, OH. The ceremony took place aboard the USS Columbia, the ship on which he was to spend the next three years. During their marriage, Bess accompanied him to Navy assignments in Panama, China, Europe, and Japan. They had one child, a son, Roscoe F. Good, Jr. First Lieutenant Roscoe Fletcher Good, Jr., U.S. Marine Corps, was killed in action in Korea on 24 April 1951. He was 29. Death and Burial Admiral Roscoe Fletcher Good died on 26 February 1973 at Bethesda Naval Hospital, MD. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, in Section 7, Grave 9035-2. He was survived by his wife, Bess, who died of cardiac arrest on 25 January 1985. She is buried with her husband. |
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Honoree ID: 527 | Created by: MHOH |