Orange Grove group honors Keesler Marine

Published Dec. 16, 2011
By Susan Griggs
81st Training Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Sgt. Lawrence Goddard, a member of Keesler's Marine Corps Detachment, was honored as the Orange Grove/Lyman Chamber of Commerce's military member of the quarter Dec. 8.

He graduated from the meteorological equipment maintenance course in the 335th Training Squadron the same day, Goddard joined the Marine Corps five years ago and was deployed aboard the USS Iwo Jima with a Marine expeditionary unit until January 2009.

Goddard volunteered for improvised explosive device detection dog handling training at Southern Pines, N.C., where he was the headquarters and service company dog team leader.

He returned to his old unit and deployed to Afghanistan to serve as assistant kennel master for 13 dog and handler teams working with police mentoring teams at various locations in the region.

Goddard was wounded by enemy fire during a routine squad patrol on Aug. 21, 2010. His actions earned him the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a Combat Valor Distinction and Purple Heart. After two surgeries and physical therapy to walk without crutches, he returned to Afghanistan to finish the deployment. He returned home in January before coming to Keesler for training.

"I want to thank my fellow Marines and other military for their past service," Goddard said during the award ceremony.