Goza, Leonard Elmo, LTJG

Leonard was killed in a helicopter crash 6/13/1969, nine months after he left HA(L)-3.

I have since found information from a brother-in-law married to Leonard's since deceased sister, and he was killed in a helicopter crash off the coast of San Diego somewhere, and body was lost at sea, not recovered. 
He said they were aboard a ship operating off the coast of California and had a flight going into San Diego and he said Leonard was not scheduled to fly that day, but the pilot that was scheduled, gave him the flight because Leonard wanted to come in early for a family situation.

He said the flight never made it and all onboard perished, and the helo and all personnel onboard were never found. He said there was no cause of the crash determined to his knowledge. He didn't remember the name of the ship or the type of helo.

I have since learned from the pilot who gave up the flight, that it was an H-2 and they were doing carrier quals off San Clemente preparing to deploy on the Connie. It was a night flight and the helicopter was lost off Point Loma with entire crew (no pax), the last call as he remembers was “we’re spinning”. All that was found was a seat cushion floating.

A marker was placed at the foot of his parents in the family plot at Mount Hope Cemetery, Anson, Jones County, Texas, USA