This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Daniel L Arnes, CMDCM
to remember
Goza, Leonard Elmo, LTJG.
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Contact Info
Last Address HC-5, Imperial Beach, CA
Date of Passing Jun 13, 1969
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
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
Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase V Campaign (68)
From Month/Year
July / 1968
To Month/Year
November / 1968
Description This campaign was from 1 July to 1 November 1968. During this period a country-wide effort was begun to restore government control of territory lost to the enemy since the Tet offensive. The enemy attempted another such offensive on 17-18 August but his efforts were comparatively feeble and were quickly overwhelmed by Allied forces.
In the fall of 1968 the South Vietnamese government, with major U.S. support, launched an accelerated pacification campaign. All friendly forces were coordinated and brought to bear on the enemy in every tactical area of operation. In these intensified operations, friendly units first secured a target area, then Vietnamese government units, regional forces/popular forces, police and civil authorities screened the inhabitants, seeking members of the Viet Cong infrastructure. This technique was so successful against the political apparatus that it became the basis for subsequent friendly operations. Government influence expanded into areas of the countryside previously dominated by the Viet Cong to such an extent that two years later at least some measure of government control was evident in all but a few remote regions.