A Navy Electricians Mate 3rd Class from Laclede who served aboard the USS Oklahoma and was killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941 returns to Laclede to be buried on October 9th. George M Gooch was 22 when he died in the attack and had served two years in the Navy. Gooch received four awards or decorations for his service, including:
- Purple Heart Medal
- American Defense Service Medal (with Fleet Clasp)
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (with Bronze Star)
- World War II Victory Medal
George Gooch’s remains were recovered and identified through the USS Oklahoma disinterment. As of this past September, 388 of the 429 sailors on the ship have been positively identified through DNA samples provided by family members.
Navy Electricians Mate 3rd Class George M Gooch will be laid to rest at the Laclede Cemetery with Full Military Honors
A shipmate of Gooch, Seaman Second Class Harold Lloyd Head of Laclede, was identified and returned home to be buried on October 10th, 2018
