Miracles Saved Local Veteran

It took a series of major miracles to save the life of Navy Radio Technician First Class Anthony Joseph “Mark” Goodheart while serving aboard the USS Gunnell submarine in the Pacific Ocean off the Philippines in early 1944.  Later, it took good fortune to bring Goodheart to Franconia, where he lived the rest of his life with wife Marilyn.  Both of them were deeply involved in local community organizations.

The Franconia Museum presents this tribute to Mark, as he was known to all in his native Montana, the Navy and Franconia, as part of our nation’s observation of Veterans’ Day 2024. Veterans are a major part of our community’s history, and many of their stories are related in our Franconia Remembers book series. In fact, much of the information for this article came from our Volume II book which is on sale at the Museum for only $10. Copies can be ordered electronically by clicking our e-store at franconiamuseum.org.
 
The miracle in the Pacific occurred when the submarine Gunnell, which had surfaced at night to charge its batteries, was attacked by Japanese patrol boats disguised as native fishing vessels. The captain ordered a quick dive, leaving several sailors, including Goodheart, on deck. Mark later wrote that he didn’t remember much about the incident. Although injured by shrapnel, he floated in the water for three days before making it to a nearby island. He was searching for a fresh water stream when he was surrounded by natives, fortunately friendly ones. They hid him and treated his wounds with native remedies.

Mark was then transported on a bamboo dinghy to what was to be a rendezvous point with an American sub. The vessel failed to show up so the group returned to the island. After 60 days, contact was successful, and the transfer was made at sea. Mark was taken to Perth, Australia for treatment.

Before the war, Mark was a sheepherder. He met Marilyn in Denver, Colorado, shortly before enlisting on July 4, 1942, when his deferment expired. Marilyn wrote to him often, including sending a poem while he was recovering in Australia. The two were married March 17, 1945. The poem is included in the Franconia Remembers book.

Mark was returned stateside, and he and Marilyn were married on March 17, 1945 in Great Falls, Montana. He was first transferred by the Navy to San Francisco and then New London, Connecticut, before being discharged. They moved to Washington, D.C., after the war ended and Mark went to work for the Commerce Department.

One of his workmates was Red Woolhiser, who lived on Valley View Drive in Franconia, and was active with the fire department. Mark visited Red’s home, and he and Marilyn liked the area and the rest is history.

Mark and his new neighbor and fellow veteran, Donald Walker, were drivers for the fledgling emergency service, often buying the gas for the ambulance so it could make a run. Marilyn was involved in the Ladies’ Auxiliary, raising money for expenses. Both were part of the Springfield-Franconia Lions Club, with Mark serving as president.

Mark had an incredible career with the Commerce Department’s Coast and Geodetic Survey, rising to the Directorship of the Research and Development Laboratory at the National Oceanographic Astronautical Administration. Along the way he chased whales with the famous Jacques Cousteau and traveled the world placing buoys to measure tides, current and salinity of the oceans.

Mark and Marilyn lived at the Greenspring Retirement Village in Springfield before passing away within hours of each other in December, 2008. Read more about this amazing Franconia couple in Franconia Remembers.

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FRANCONIA REMEMBERS
This is one of the Franconia Museum’s occasional articles highlighting the area history.  If you would like for a friend to receive these FREE articles, contact us at franconiamuseum@yahoo.com. Memberships also are encouraged so we can continue our work. The Museum is located in the Franconia Government Center, currently located at 6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22310. The hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. The Museum is a 501 (c) 3 tax exempt organization as approved by the Internal Revenue Service

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