Kenneth Newlon Good

Kenneth Newlon Good

My father, Kenneth Newlon Good, was born on November 30, 1930 in Hollywood, California. He was raised in the town of San Marino, California, where he spent his early childhood playing "army", "cowboys and Indians", football, baseball and soccer. He later acquired a passion for weight lifting and surfing. He graduated from South Pasadena-San Marino High School in 1948. Dad was known as a quiet, honest and hard-working young man.

In 1948 my father received his appointment to West Point by Senator Richard M. Nixon. Dad found himself quite discouraged upon first entering West Point, but his parents urged him to persevere through that first year. He proudly graduated with the class of 1952. During his four years at West Point Dad was a member of the Weight Lifting Club and played soccer for three years.

In his last year at the Academy Dad met my mom, Barbara May Waterhouse, from Kaua`i, Hawai`i. They were married in Crestwood, New York, in June of 1952. Upon his graduation from West Point Dad was assigned to a paratrooper unit where he became a qualified paratrooper and graduate of the Infantry Officer's Advance Course at Fort Benning, Ga. He also served with the 7th Infantry Division in Korea, as well as posts in Japan and on the Mainland.

In 1958 dad accepted an assignment as assistant professor of military science in the senior ROTC group at the University of Hawai`i. By this time dad and mom had three children: Leona (1953), Chuck (1956) and me, Lori (1958).

In 1962 dad volunteered for a tour in Viet Nam. He served as a senior advisor with the 7th Infantry Division in My Tho under Lt. Col. John Vann. His reasons for volunteering for Viet Nam can best be said in his own words in a letter that he wrote to his parents in July, 1962 (two weeks before leaving):

"Naturally, I volunteered for professional reasons, but I also was motivated by a desire to do something really worthwhile for our country. I feel that Communism is just like the weather - everybody talks about it but nobody does anything about it. I also feel that more people should take to heart what JFK said in his inaugural address about asking yourself what you can do for your country."

On January 2, 1963 dad was hit by an enemy sniper bullet as he attempted to rally a stalled Vietnamese unit against the Viet Cong in the village of Ap Bac. Col Chinh, his Vietnamese counter part, attempted to call for an air evacuation; but my father, who was not fully aware of the extent of his wound, discouraged Col Chinh from making the call, as he did not want to endanger the lives of others around him. Dad died a few hours later. He was buried at the National Memorial Cemetery at Punchbowl in Hawai`i.

Kenneth Newlon Good has been greatly missed. He was a man of impeccably high moral standards, he was honest, courageous, dedicated, loyal and devoted-but most of all he was a wonderful husband and father.

Lori Good Dill

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