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Robert O. Goodman was a former A-6 Intruder aviator (served as Bombardier/Navigator). He was shot down over Lebanon in 1983. Captured upon ejection from his stricken plane, he was held for multiple days. His release was facilitated by Reverend Jesse Jackson. Flying the strike, the crew from VA-85 was hit by a man portable missile (SA-7 or SA-9) into the engine nozzle upon dropping its bomb-load, while still in a dive through 1,800 AGL. The fuselage and a wing were immediately engulfed in flames, and then the right side engine erupted. US Navy Lieutenant Mark Lange, serving as pilot in command, tried to keep flying, and give them a chance to eject. After almost smashing the ground the Intruder was seen to pull up into the air-when it most likely stalled, resulting in a crash on a 1000 AGL hill, above a village surrounded by Syrian AAA-positions. LT Lange ejected in the final moment, but his parachute failed to properly deploy by the time he hit the ground: his left leg was so severely injured, Lange died shortly after in the hands of several Syrian troops and Lebanese civilians. Goodman broke three ribs and injured the shoulder and a knee during the landing, but was otherwise OK. He was captured by the Syrians immediately afterwards, and taken to Damascus.
Captivity Goodman was held for over a month, at which time there were numerous attempts to have him freed. He had a few visitors, including Ambassador Robert Paganelli who brought him Christmas dinner. Many say that Jackson's trip and subsequent negotiations were politically motivated, as he was attempting to earn the Democratic nomination for President. Whatever history will write, even then sitting President and potential opponent, Ronald Reagan said, "You can't quarrel with success." When asked what he thought of the trip at the time, Goodman himself, pulled his robe, showing his VA-85 squadron t-shirt, and said, "I'm not a politician. I'm a naval officer...Let the people who are responsible for getting me out of here get me out of here." White House Reception U.S. President Reagan welcomed Lt. Goodman at the White House Jan. 4, 1984, hours after he and Rev. Jackson arrived back in the U.S. Reagan said that Lt. Goodman "exemplified qualities of leadership and loyalty" and said Jackson's "mission of mercy" had "earned our gratitude and our admiration." In turn, Jackson praised Reagan for sending a letter to Syrian President Assad calling for cooperation in bringing peace to Lebanon. Squadron History | ||||||||
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