Keven Z. Goodno 1945-1972

GOODNO, MONSON, HARRIS

Posted By: Diana Henry Diedrich (email)
Date: 1/5/2007 at 15:23:10

Dorchester Soldier is Killed in Vietnam

Dorchester – Parents of Army Sgt. Keven Goodno, 26, Dorchester, said Tuesday they were told their son was killed last Thursday in a helicopter crash in Vietnam.

Army officials told Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Goodno, rural Dorchester, their son was an observer gunner on the helicopter when the craft set off a land mine while flying low near Da Nang.

Goodno joined the army in 1964 and was serving his second tour of duty in Vietnam.

Cedar Rapids Gazette; 1 Nov 1972
Transcribed by Diana Henry Diedrich
Note: The name of Keven was typed as it appeared in the newspaper article.

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Added by Connie Ellis, 3/5/2011:

Additional information about Keven:

Staff Sergeant Keven Zane Goodno, age 26, of D Troop, 17th Cavalry RGT, 1 AVN BDE Army of the United States was born November 15, 1945 to Inga (Monson) and Alvin Goodno. He was killed on October 26, 1972 at Quang Ngai, South Vietnam. Keven was an observer in a helicopter, on a scout mission. While hovering at tree-top level, a command-detonated mine blew the helicopter out of the air. He was killed instantly. The pilot was First Lt. Dexter Bush Florence who was seriously injured. Lt. Florence was evacuated to Japan where he died on October 29, 1972 from his injuries sustained in the explosion. Staff Sergeant Goodno enlisted in the Army in 1964 out of Spring Grove, Minnesota. He was serving his second tour of duty having arrived in Vietnam on May 19, 1972.

Keven's parents farmed in the Highland Township area in Winneshiek County, Iowa. His uncle was Marvin Monson of Dorchester, Iowa, and his aunt was Mrs. Lillian (Leo "Dutch") Harris of Postville, Iowa, in addition to cousins who lived in the area.

~Sources: Information from the Vietnam Wall Memorial and from the obituary of his mother, Inga Goodno.