Goddard, Bernard G.

Bernard G. Goddard

December 8, 1927 – May 29, 2018

Sgt. Maj. Bernard G. Goddard, USMC (Ret.) passed away May 29^th, 2018.  Bernard was born December 8^th, 1927, in Dudley, MA., the second child to Joel and Rose Goddard.  Bernard attended Cole Trade School of Southbridge, MA. 1943-1945, After which he began his 34-year career in the United States Marine Corps by enlisting in July 1945.

After recruit training at Parris Island, SC., he was deployed to Tientsin, China for occupation duty until the end of WWII.  Bernard served in Korea from 1953-1955, and later, when the Cuban Missile Crisis erupted, he was deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in October 1962.  With the escalation of the war in Vietnam, he deployed as First Sergeant of Kilo Company, 3^rd Battalion, 26^th Marines.  During 1966-1967 he saw action in the I Corps area of South Vietnam along the DMZ where he received four Purple Hearts and was awarded the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.  Bernard’s actions in Vietnam have also been cited in two publications: “LIMA-6” by Colonel R.D. Camp with Eric Hammel and “The Battle for Khe Sanh” by Captain Moyers S. Shore II.

After his retirement from the U.S. Marine Corps on September 1^st, 1979, Bernard settled his family in Poway, Ca. where he began his second career helping anyone and everyone.  He was always available to his friends, neighbors and strangers alike for whatever they needed.  He was often seen driving the streets of Poway in “Old Betsey”, his beloved military green pickup truck with Marine Corp. emblems waiving to fellow patriots who honked their horn thanking him for his service.

Bernard is survived by his wife Yasuko, daughter Linda and granddaughter Victoria.