HENRY C. GOELZER, LTJG, USN

From USNA Virtual Memorial Hall
Henry Goelzer '51

Date of birth: November 11, 1927

Date of death: October 20, 1953

Age: 25

Lucky Bag

From the 1951 Lucky Bag:

1951 Goelzer LB.jpg

Henry Charles Goelzer

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

When Hank first hit the Academy after a stretch in the Army, he brought with him plenty of competitive spirit and a hankering for horseplay and water pistols that have become his trademark . . . blossomed forth as a tennis player . . . and soon became Navy's best . . . applied himself to squash with similar success . . . the Big Ape comes endowed smart enough to stand in the top half of the class with little studying . . . likes to post of his 4.0 math exam records . . . has perfected the he-man and smooth line approach on prospective drags . . . we have no doubt that Hank will make his obvious merit known in Naval Aviation . . . he can go as far and as high as he wants. . . .


He was also on the 14th Company staff (fall).

1951 Goelzer LB.jpg

Henry Charles Goelzer

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

When Hank first hit the Academy after a stretch in the Army, he brought with him plenty of competitive spirit and a hankering for horseplay and water pistols that have become his trademark . . . blossomed forth as a tennis player . . . and soon became Navy's best . . . applied himself to squash with similar success . . . the Big Ape comes endowed smart enough to stand in the top half of the class with little studying . . . likes to post of his 4.0 math exam records . . . has perfected the he-man and smooth line approach on prospective drags . . . we have no doubt that Hank will make his obvious merit known in Naval Aviation . . . he can go as far and as high as he wants. . . .


He was also on the 14th Company staff (fall).

Loss

Henry was lost when his F9F Cougar crashed in the Gulf of Mexico on October 20, 1953.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

An ensign in July 1951, Henry was 7th seed in the field of 58 at the 52nd annual Tri-State Tennis Tournament at the Cincinnati Tennis Club. He also participated in the Peoria Star invitational tennis tournament on June 10 and the N.C.A.A. tennis championships on June 28.

He graduated from Rufus King High School in 1945. Science Course. Football. Tennis. On the yearbook senior page, his Sticker: Hank. 100 Octane: Myself. Blowout: Other people. Spot Light: School. Head Light: School.

He was never married and was survived by his parents, Elton Phillip Goelzer and Dorothy Rosamond Ayehallemant. (Information from his death certificate.)

Henry has a memory marker in Arlington National Cemetery.


Class of 1951

Henry is one of 48 members of the Class of 1951 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

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