Roscoe Fletcher Good – Admiral, United States Navy

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Courtesy of Flosteria.Org:

Admiral Good was Fostoria, Ohio’s, highest ranking naval officer. He also attained the honor of serving in two World Wars as well as the Korean conflict. Many other service honors were awarded him in the 42 years that he served his country.

“Fletch” Good, as he was known to many Fostorians, was born in Fostoria March 13, 1897, and graduated from Fostoria High School in 1914. For two years after graduation he was a reporter and advertising solicitor for The Fostoria Daily Times.

In 1916 Good received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. Before he completed his training there he was drafted into service during World War I in 1919 and served for six months aboard the USS Wyoming, USS New Jersey, as part of the Atlantic fleet. He was returned to the Academy to graduate with his class in 1920, standing fourth in a class of 452. He was editor of his class paper “Lucky Bag.”

His marriage to Bess Louise Owen, a Fostoria girl, took place August 2, 1919, aboard the USS Columbia, the ship to which he was assigned for three years after graduation from the academy. After that he had submarine training and was assigned to the USS O-12 in August 1921. His sea duty continued as Commanding Officer of USS L-9 and XO, USS S-21. In 1922 he was Commanding Officer USS S-17 in Panama.

In June 1924 he began postgraduate instruction in diesel engineering in Annapolis and continued at Columbia University, from which he received his MS degree in 1926. Good had three more years of submarine duty before reporting to Bureau of Engineering. From 1930 to 1932 he was Submarine Superintendent at the New York Navy Yard. He then joined Submarine Division 10 in the USS S-37 until May 1935 in the Far East.

After two years as Pfficer in Charge of the Internal Combustion Engine Laboratory at the Naval Engineering Experimental Station, Annapolis, he reported as Navigator of the USS Arkansas.

COMMANDER PACIFIC FLEET

Good served on the USS Tuscaloosa for a year before joining the staff of Commander Cruise Battalion Force in June 1939. In February, 1941 he transferred to the staff of Commander in Charge of Pacific Fleet as Assistant Operations Officer, stationed in Hawaii. He received the Legion of Merit for service in that capacity.

In August 1943, Good reported for staff duty with commander in charge U.S. fleet and Chief of  Naval Operations. In October 1944 he was assigned to the USS Washington and took command of her the next month. For meritorious conduct in battle in that command he was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of the second Legion of Merit with Combat “V”, and a letter of commendation with ribbon.

Admiral Good became Commander of Cruiser Division Six in July 1945. In November of that year he reported to the Office of Chief of Naval Operations as Head of the Fleet Operation (Logistics), stationed in Germany.

Three years later (1956) he reported as Commander Naval Forces Far East (later Japan).

Admiral Good retired March 1, 1956, and settled in Foley, Alabama, where several other naval officer friends also lived. As a civilian he was a civil and mechanical engineer. He had expected to do some fishing and enjoy retirement, but his health failed and he and his wife were forced to move to McLean, Virginia, where he died in February 1973 at Bethesda Naval Hospital. He was buried with full military honors in Arlington Cemetery.

First Lieutenant Roscoe F. Good III, the only child of the Goods, was killed in action in Korea, 1951.

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From a contemporary press report:

Bess Owen Good, 88, an area resident since 1970 who was the widow of a four-star Navy Admiral (Roscoe Fletcher Good, St.) and mother of a Marine Corps officer (First Lieutenant Roscoe Fletcher Good, Jr.) killed in action during the Korean War, died of cardiac arrest January 25, 1985 at the Meridian nursing home in LaPlata.  Mrs. Good, who lived at the Carl Vinson Hall in McLean, was a native of Ohio.

In 1919, she married Roscoe F. Good, and accompanied him to Navy assignments  in Panama, China, Europe, and Japan. Admiral Good died in 1974. Their son, Marine Lieutenant Roscoe Good III, was killed in 1951.

Her survivors include a sister, Hattie Callin of Port Angeles, Washington; two grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

She was buried with her husband and on in Arlington National Cemetery (Section 7 Grave 9035-2).

GOOD, ROSCOE FLETCHER
ADM USN

  • DATE OF BIRTH: 03/13/1897
  • DATE OF DEATH: 02/26/1973
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 7  SITE 9035-I
    ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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