Commander Richard J. G. Goodwin

Richard Goodwin was born in Persia in 1913 where his father was British Vice Consul. He was educated in the UK public school system, Haileybury College. His naval training was on the well-known training ship, HMS Conway, of the Royal Naval Reserve. Entering the Second World War as a navigator, Goodwin eventually served on top secret, highly classified mine sweeping operations during the war, on HMS Borde and HMS Whitehaven. He married Joan Gamon, during the war, whom he met in Chile while with the merchant marine, as a cadet, sailing between Liverpool, UK and Valparaiso, Chile. Goodwin participated in the invasion of Normandy in charge of landing crafts and was wounded on the beaches there. In December 1943 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for valor, among other medals. He was selected by the British Admiralty to travel to Central and South America as the British government’s envoy to speak about the efforts of the Royal Navy in World War II. He later took on a post for marine operations in northern Peru with Lobitos Oilfields and later became the South America representative for W.R. Grace’s shipping division, Grace Line, New York and Lykes Lines, New Orleans. He was transferred to Panama. He retired in Naples, FL, where he became the Court Interpreter for the City of Naples until age of 80. Commander Richard J. G. Goodwin died in Peru at the age of 99.