35th Infantry (Cacti) Regiment Association


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  SP4 Jerry Dale Gooch    In memory of our fallen brother

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother"



HHC
2nd Battalion
35th Infantry Regiment
Vietnam War

"Not For Fame or Reward
Not For Place or For Rank
But In Simple Obedience To
Duty as They Understood It"
National Defense Service Medal Vietnam Service Medal Vietnam Campaign Medal Vietnam Campaign Medal


The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, SP4 Jerry Dale Gooch, who died in the service of his country on July 25th, 1967 in Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam. The cause of death was listed as Small Arms/AW. At the time of his death Jerry was 20 years of age. He was from Detroit, Michigan. Jerry is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Panel 23E, Line 119.

The decorations earned by SP4 Jerry Dale Gooch include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Silver Star, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation.

Silver Star Citation

Specialist Four Gooch distinguished himself for gallantry in action while engaged in military actions against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. On 25th July 1967 Sp4 Gooch distinguished himself while serving as a Squad Leader in the Recon Platoon of the 2/35th, 25th Division, operating south of Quang Ngai City. His squad had made a helicopter assault into enemy territory when it encountered heavy automatic weapons fire. Sp4 Gooch reached the comparative safety of a trench when he saw that the rest of his squad had taken cover in a shell crater and was without means of communication. Disregarding the intense hostile fire, he ran across approximately twenty-five meters of open terrain to reach his squad, and then led them back to the trench line. He discovered that one of his men was wounded and had been unable to follow him. Directing the supporting fire of his men into the enemy position, he climbed out of the trench and again braved the relentless enemy fire as he made his way to the wounded man. He picked the man up and carried him back to the squads position, but before he could regain safety himself, he was mortally wounded.

Sp4 Goochs leadership and conspicuous gallantry at the sacrifice of his life are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Burial:
Flint Memorial Park
Mount Morris
Genesee County
Michigan, USA
Plot: Sec.TT Lot 13 Site 4