The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Commander Henry William Goodall (NSN: 0-58922/1100), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Executive Officer of the U.S.S. CANOPUS (AS-9), in action in the vicinity of Quinauan Point, Bataan, Luzon, Philippine islands, on 8 February 1942. When it became necessary to coordinate an attack from seaward with the operations of ground forces in breaking the resistance of a defiladed and strongly-held enemy position, Lieutenant Commander Goodall was given command of a Naval expedition consisting of two armored boats accompanied by two motor whaleboats. During the entire operation Lieutenant Commander Goodall maintained an exposed position and directed in detail the maneuver and fire of all the boats in his detachment despite intense hostile fire from the beach and repeated bombing and strafing attacks by enemy dive bombers. When a series of bomb hits required that his boat be beached, Lieutenant Commander Goodall, though himself seriously wounded, calmly directed the care of other injured men. The consistent courage, strong leadership, and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Commander Goodall in the face of serious hazards of hostile bombardment and gun fire furnished an example to the entire personnel of the expedition which contributed in large measure to the single success of the operation.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Navy Cross
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Navy Cross
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderDivision:
U.S.S. Canopus (AS-9)Action Date:
November 5, 1941 – March 11, 1942
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Henry William Goodall (NSN: 0-58922/1100), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of this profession as Executive Officer of the Submarine Tender U.S.S. CANOPUS (AS-9), in action during the period 5 November 1941 to 11 March 1942. Despite the fact that the U.S.S. CANOPUS had been damaged by bombs and was partially beached at Mariveles, the work of repairing weapons and facilities was carried out at night and during non-flying weather. In these very important maintenance tasks and in and about the Section Base, Lieutenant Commander Goodall was exceptionally resourceful in manufacturing parts for extemporized weapons. Furthermore for his judgment and courage in combat in command of a small-boat expedition in action at Bataan in preserving the integrity of the defenses by his strategic attack from the rear on enemy Japanese forces which had infiltrated behind the Allied lines, such attack from seaward being prerequisite to the enemy’s dislodgment from various caves and other cover. In the performance of these duties, Lieutenant Commander Goodall was seriously wounded.