Virgil Lee Goewey

Virgil “Butch” Goewey, was known to many as a tough guy. He was born on September 21, 1932 near Hamburg, Illinois, to Allen Goewey and Lucy Booth. Virgil was the fourth child born to Allen and Lucy; he was the middle child of seven. Growing up, he was a hard working student and received only one “B” during High School. At seventeen years old, he completed all of his High School assignments early, turned down a college scholarship, and enlisted into the Marines on April 20, 1950.

While in boot camp he was recommended for and accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy Prep School. He passed all of the courses and physical, and was accepted. But he refused entrance, and instead requested a change to infantry where he would be sent to Korea. Corporal Goewey served one year with Company “B”, 1st Bn., 5th Regt., and 1st Marine Division. His re-enforced squad of approximately twenty men made the name “The Hook” well known. On July 5, 1952 they decimated an attacking force estimated at one hundred or more strong.

Returning to the Marine Corp Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, he taught Special Subject to recruits. And became a Drill Instructor with Sgt. Massaro, neither had never been to Drill Instructor School. However, that did not stop them from graduating an Honor Platoon with the highest scores in the history of the boot camp. Sgt. Massaro went on to become the Sargent Major of the Marine Corps. And Sgt. Goewey was selected to be a Drill Instructor for the Women Marine Reserves at Summer Training.

On July 4, 1954, Virgil married his wife, Georgia Stone, after a yearlong courtship. They celebrated their wedding day at the Military Base in San Diego, California.

Having decided to make the United States Marine Corps a career, he retrained as a Radio Telegraph Operator, and graduated as Honorman with the second highest average ever attained. He then served two years at Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field, Santa Ana, California and was complimented for his efforts in the preparation for their first Inspector General’s inspection.

In 1957, he served with the 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa, Japan serving with 4.2 inch Mortar Company, and Regimental Headquarters. Having just been granted a top secret clearance, he attended the Cryptographers Course, Honorman. In 1958, he went to Camp Pendleton, California, and was accepted into the recently formed elite, hand-picked, 1st Force Reconnaissance Company. Effective December of 1958, he was promoted to Technical Sergeant on the last list in history of the so-called “Old Corps” Gunny’s. In July of 1959, he attended Parachute School at Fort Benning, Georgia. During February of 1960, with the Navy Test Jumpers at TATU, El Centro, California, and was the first in history to make a NIGHT, self-determined exit, free-fall out of the back opening of an A3D, and became a one of the few to make a free-fall jump though the Bombardier Navigator’s escape chute of a F3D. He then attended the Radio Chiefs course in MCRD, San Diego, California, graduating with the highest grade ever attained.

He was accepted back into 1st Force Reconnaissance Company in December of 1960 and May of 1961, he was with both the first and second group to ever make a diving free-fall out of the back of a newly acquired GV-1, later called a C-130. In June of 1961, Sgt. Goewey returned to El Centro to do more test jumps with new chutes. In the Spring of 1962, he was with a small group sent to Thailand and was an “exchange” for field work with the Australian Army’s elite Special Air Services, SAS. Upon his return to the US, he was promoted to the “new” GySgt. E-7. In early 1963, he was the only man in the 1st Marine Division with his Military Occupational Specialty to be awarded Proficiency Pay.

The summer of 1963, Virgil once again went to Okinawa as the 3rd Division Radio Chief, Community Relations NCO, and was selected as the Communications Chief for an Amphibious Landing in Taiwan.

Returning to the US in 1964 he became the first Marine to be accepted into the 1st Force Reconnaissance for a third tour, which covered nine continuous years of service. With the outbreak in Vietnam, Sgt. Goewey was with the advanced CP that flew directly into Da Nang, Vietnam and established a camp at China Beach where he filled the billets of two officers and three NCO’s. His company on duty the night of the devastating attack on the adjacent Marble Mountain Airfield and directed his unit’s defense. In early 1966, he was promoted to Master Sergeant, E-8, and in May to Second Lieutenant.

Returning to the United States, he was promoted once more to First Lieutenant and was invited into the newly formed 5th Force Reconnaissance Company and served with them for all three years of activism. Lt. Goewey became the first marine in history to serve in Force Reconnaissance for four tours, the only marine to serve in 12 consecutive years, and the only marine to be on parachute status for eleven successive years. In January of 1969, he was selected to be a Captain. This DOR gave his 7th rank in active duty Force Reconnaissance another record. Captain Goewey attended the Communication Officers Course at Quantico, Virginia, and then returned to Vietnam.

Although he was new to his rank and responsibilities as a captain, he was assigned a Major’s billet, did not have XO, and initially had no Operations NCO. He was ordered accommodations in the Field Grade Officers Quarters. During his time in Vietnam, he organized the collection of food and clothing for Vietnamese orphanages. He also, assisted in the coordination of the Vietnamese link-up and equipment repair, and with the drawdown of the Service Battalions of the Logistics Command.

In September of 1970, he returned to Camp Pendleton and was assigned as Officer In Charge of the 5th MEB Communications Center and Cryptographic Officer. Upon return of the 1st Marine Division from Vietnam, he integrated all communication equipment, personnel, and training, until the 5th MEB was deactivated.

He began Recruiting Duty in 1972, in Portland, Oregon, where he acted as the reviewing officer at a formal parade, a judge for the Miss Oregon competition, a guest of Miss America during one of her appearances, and a judge of the marching capabilities during the Drum and Bugle Corps state finals competition.

In 1974, he served in Iwakuni, Japan with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing as the Communication Squadron’s Opperations Officer, later the Logistics Officer. He then served in the Philippines to select proper communication sites for a planned amphibious assault exercise.

In late 1975, Captain Goewey reported to Headquarters Marine Corps and was assigned to the Inspector General’s Department. The following July he was promoted to Major and assigned as team head, and to establish a definite rank and MOS structure for the Inspector General’s Communication Inspectors, based upon type and size of a unit that is being inspected. Major Goewey retired in 1977 after twenty-seven years of service to his country.

Major Goewey’s personal decorations and unit citations include: the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, the Purple Heart with Gold Star, the Navy Commendation Medal with Valor, the Navy Achievement Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation with 1 star, the Navy Unit Commendation with 3 stars, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Good Conduct Medal with 4 stars, the Vietnamese First Class Honor Medal, the Korean Presidential Citation, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm. Major Goewey also adorned the Navy/Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia, the Vietnamese Parachutist Insignia, ten combat battle stars, and is an expert with both rifles and pistols. He was also the Vice Commandment of the USS Oregon Detachment of the Marine Corps League, a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans, and a charter member of Post 11501 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a member of the Freemasons, and proudly a member of the Marine Corps Mustang Association.

After his retirement, Virgil remained active with his various Marine Corps affiliated groups. He enjoyed spending time with his two grandchildren. During a difficult time in his life, they were the lights that kept him going. He was an avid supporter in all of their activities including taking them to many swim meets. And as a family they would enjoy taking camping trips together. Virgil very much enjoyed playing bingo and to the dismay of other players, he was often a winner. He enjoyed doughnuts from Doughnut Day, and always shared them with others.

Virgil is survived and will be missed by his beloved daughter Cindy Goewey, her husband Leonard York, and their children, Taylor and Tanner; His son, Mark Goewey and his wife Debbie; and his siblings, Betty Bloyd, Ann Castleton, Alice Curry, and Wayne Goewey. He is preceded in death by his parents, Allen and Lucy; his beloved wife, Georgia Stone Goewey; and his siblings, Archie Goewey, and Don Goewey.

A Celebration of Life will begin with a Memorial Service with Military Honors on January 8, 2015 at 1:00pm at Willamette National Cemetery. Cindy and Leonard invite everyone to their home, 24111 SW Farmington Road, Beaverton, Oregon 97007, to continue to honor and celebrate the life of Virgil L. Goewey.