This article is about the former naval flight officer. For the executive dean at Rutgers University, see Robert M. Goodman. For the UK child psychiatrist, see Robert N. Goodman. For the professional boxing matchmaker, see Bob Goodman.
Robert O. Goodman (born 30 November 1956) is a former United States Navy bombardier–navigator. He was shot down in his A-6 Intruder over Lebanon on 4 December 1983. Captured upon ejection from his stricken plane, he was held captive for 30 days. His release on 3 January 1984 was facilitated by Jesse Jackson.[2]
Early Life
Goodman was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico on November 28, 1956. He is a 1978 graduate of the US Naval Academy. His father is a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel.[3]
While on a bombing mission, the two-man crew from VA-85 was hit by an infrared homing missile (SA-7 or SA-9) into the engine nozzle upon dropping its bomb load, while still in a dive through 1,800 feet (554 m) AGL. The fuselage and a wing were immediately engulfed in flames, and then the right engine erupted.[citation needed]
The pilot, Lieutenant Mark Lange, tried to control the aircraft in order to safely eject the crew. After a rapid, low-level descent, the Intruder was seen to pull up and likely stalled, resulting in a crash on a hill at 1,000 ft MSL, near a village surrounded by Syriananti-aircraft artillery positions. Lange ejected both himself and Goodman in the final moment, but his parachute failed to properly deploy before he hit the ground. Lange's left leg was severely injured and he died shortly after capture by Syrian troops and Lebanese civilians. Goodman, rendered unconscious, broke three ribs, and injured a shoulder and a knee during the landing, but was otherwise stable. He was captured and awakened by the Syrians and taken to Damascus.[citation needed]
Captivity
Goodman was held for more than a month, during which the U.S. government made numerous attempts to free him. He had a few visitors, including Ambassador Robert Paganelli who brought him Christmas dinner.[5]
Reagan said Lt. Goodman "exemplified qualities of leadership and loyalty" and said Jackson's "mission of mercy" had "earned our gratitude and our admiration." In turn, Jackson praised Reagan for sending a letter to Syrian president Assad calling for cooperation in bringing peace to Lebanon.[8]
Aftermath
Following captivity, release, and return to the United States, Goodman remained in active service.[citation needed]
Goodman was featured in an episode of Wings Over the Gulf ("In Harm's Way", 1992) in which he discussed his experiences in the Gulf War of 1991 with Iraq, flying the A-6 Intruder.[citation needed]
Goodman retired with the rank of commander in 1995. He subsequently became a business owner in Colorado Springs, Colorado.[9]
^Gubert, Betty Kaplan; Sawyer, Miriam; Fannin, Caroline M. (2002). "Robert O. Goodman Jr.". In Distinguished African Americans in Aviation and Space Science, p 136.
^"4th December 1983". The Year 1983. Ejection History. 23 June 2011. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2013. A-6E TRAM BuNo 152915 coded AC, side number 556 VA-85 "Black Falcons" from USS Kennedy. Near Kfar Salwan, 15 M E of Beirut, Lebanon, shot down by Syrian SAM-7 during bombing Lt. Mark "Doppler" Lange ejected Martin-Baker BN Robert O. "Bobby" Goodman ejected Martin-Baker
^Walters, Ronald (2007). Freedom Is Not Enough: Black Voters, Black Candidates, and American Presidential Politics (American Political Challenges). Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, p. 34. Excerpt at Google Books.
^Martin, Roland (10 April 2008). "New Details Emerge on Polygamy Raid; McCain Makeover?". Election Central. CNN. Retrieved 9 December 2008. the fact that it was Reverend Wright who accompanied Reverend Jackson to get a Navy pilot, Goodman, out of Syria, who also was on that trip with Louis Farrakhan. Reagan praised that mercy mission for getting the pilot back.