George F. Good Jr.

George Franklin Good Jr. (September 16, 1901 – October 25, 1991) was a decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of lieutenant general. Good is most noted for his service as commander of the Marine Defense Force of Funafuti during World War II and later as commanding general of Department of the Pacific.

Early life

George F. Good Jr. was born on September 16, 1901, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the son of station agent for Pennsylvania Railroad, George F. Good and his wife Clara. He spent his childhood in near St. Davids, Pennsylvania and after graduation from high school, George Jr. received appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. While at Academy, Good was a member of Lacrosse team and was appointed a Commissary of 4th Midshipmen Battalion. He graduated with bachelor's degree on June 7, 1923, and was commissioned second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on the same date. While at Academy, he met his future wife Jessie, who was a daughter of Navy Captain Daniel M. Garrison, head of Department of Mathematics.

Following his graduation, Good was sent to the Basic School at Philadelphia Navy Yard for further Officers' training and subsequently went to Nicaragua for his first expeditionary duties. He took part in the jungle patrols and combat against rebel militants under Augusto César Sandino and received the Nicaraguan Cross of Valor with Diploma by the Government of Nicaragua.

Good was relieved in command of the battalion by Colonel Lloyd L. Leech in April 1940 and reassigned as battalion executive officer. With the activation of the 5th Defense Battalion in December 1940, Colonel Leech – new commanding officer, requested Good as his executive officer. During May 1941, Good was ordered to England and appointed assistant naval attache at U.S. Embassy in London. He was later on a secret mission, along with some navy civil engineers, to tour four base sites, two in Scotland and two in Northern Ireland, and to advise the Marine Corps and the navy as to their security requirements. Good again served as battalion executive officer and sailed with his unit to the South Pacific in July 1942. Good was stationed in Noumea, New Caledonia and several batteries and platoons were detached from 5th Defense Battalion in August 1942 in order to deploy to Tulagi. Good would later remark that the mixed force was "poorly armed" and "stuck out like a sore thumb".

Officially, Good was appointed commanding officer of 5th Defense Battalion in November 1942 and remained on Funafuti until December 1943, when he was relieved by Lieutenant Colonel Willis E. Hicks. For his service on Funafuti, Good was decorated with the Legion of Merit with Combat "V".

Colonel Good was transferred to the staff of 2nd Marine Division under Major General Thomas E. Watson on October 11, 1944, and relieved Colonel David M. Shoup as Divisional Chief of Staff. The division was located on Saipan and participated in the mopping-up operations. Good later took part in the Battle of Okinawa in April 1945, but his division remained in reserve.

Later career Change of Command, 2d Marine Division. Major General Good and Major General Chesty Puller, Camp Lejeune, July 1, 1954. Colonel Good was ordered back to the States in December 1945 and assumed command of the Basic School at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. He was responsible for the training of newly commissioned Marine officer until August 1946, when he was relieved by Colonel Edward W. Snedeker. Good then served as director of instruction at Quantico until July 1948, when he was ordered back to 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and appointed chief of staff under Major General Franklin A. Hart.

Decorations

Here is the ribbon bar of Lieutenant General George F. Good Jr.: