Seaman First Class (S1c) Clifford George Goodwin, age 24, of Diamond, MO was killed in action on Sunday, December 7, 1941, while serving on the USS Oklahoma in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He was born on July 31, 1917 in Diamond, to George J. and Clara (Lewis) Goodwin. He was the 11th child of 12 children. He grew up in Diamond on a farm and graduated from Diamond High School.
He enlisted in the United States Navy on April 30,1940 and reported for duty on the USS Oklahoma on July 26, 1940. He had served on the ship’s turret crew for about one year at the time of the attack. He chose the USS Oklahoma at the invitation of his brother, Dan Goodwin, and was granted his choice. Dan Goodwin had been serving on the ship since January 1935 and had joined the Navy in October 1934. At the time of the attack Dan was on liberty from the ship with his wife, Helen, in their home at Hickman Field. When they heard what was going on, Dan headed for the ship about a mile away and saw the ship was already gone. He searched for Clifford all day and half the night hoping that he might have made it out and swam to shore. Dan was devastated because his brother had come on the “Oklahoma” because of him and he went down with the ship.
Clifford was originally listed as “missing in action” following the attack on Pearl Harbor. The USS Oklahoma suffered multiple torpedo hits causing it to capsize. Four hundred and twenty-nine Sailors and Marines were lost that day, including Clifford. In the years following the attack, remains of men lost who were aboard the USS Oklahoma, were recovered. Clifford’s remains were buried in a casket with other unknown sailors’ remains in the National Cemetery of the Pacific.
The identification of Clifford’s remains came with advances in forensic science and matching DNA analysis samples submitted by family members. The request for DNA samples was that they should come from the closest relative on the maternal side of the family. Clifford’s closest next of kin, one niece and two great nieces from the maternal side submitted DNA samples. Another niece from the paternal side of the family submitted DNA samples hoping to help also. After Clifford’s remains were identified, his official records were changed to “killed in action” rather than “missing in action”. About 117 individuals’ remains from the ship have been identified at the present time.
Clifford is survived by a host of nieces and nephews and great and great-great nieces and nephews. At the time of his death, his immediate survivors were his mother, Clara L. Goodwin; one sister, Beulah Marie (Goodwin) Clements; seven brothers, Samuel, John, Daniel, Lee, Charles, Virgil and Fred Goodwin, all of whom are now deceased. He was preceded in death by his father, George J. Goodwin, in 1934 and three infant siblings; Frank, Pearl and Jimmy Goodwin. Five of the Goodwin brothers served in WWII.
The closest first nieces and nephews who survive him are the offspring of his sister and seven brothers; Mary Louise (Clements) Putnam, Anita (Goodwin) Smith, Jimmy Goodwin, Donna (Goodwin) Vance, Charlene (Goodwin) Sheets, Sonie Goodwin, Roger Goodwin, Kathy (Goodwin) Haulmark, Gary and Michael Goodwin. Ten first nephews are deceased; Billy, Bobby, Charles, Nelson, Carl and Donald Clements; Dannie Lee, Danny Ray, Dennis and J.D. Goodwin.
A Funeral Service for Clifford will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, May 12, 2018, at First Baptist Church in Diamond, 501 W. Market St., with Reverend Phillip McClendon, cousin of the family, officiating. Burial will follow in the Diamond Cemetery with full military honors conducted by the U.S. Navy Funeral Detail. The public is welcome to attend. Over 60 family members from all over the United States, and one from the Middle East, plan to attend the services.
In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions are suggested to the First Baptist Church, Diamond and/or the American Legion Miller-Goodwin-King Post 431, Diamond, MO.
Arrangements are under the direction of Mason-Woodard Mortuary & Crematory.
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