TSGT Rodney Herschel Gott was killed in action on 5 February 1969, when the EC-47 aircraft, callsign CAP 72, on which he was serving as an Airborne Morse Systems Operator, was downed by enemy fire over Laos.
TSGT Gott was born on 3 May 1947 in Miami, FL and graduated from Norland High School, Miami, FL in 1965.
TSGT Gott enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on 14 September 1965. Following basic training at Lackland AFB, TX, and Morse Code training at Keesler AFB, MS, he was assigned to the 6927th Security Group, Onna Point, Okinawa. In January 1968, TSGT Gott was reassigned to the 6993rd Security Squadron, Kelly AFB, TX. On 12 July 1968, he reported for duty at the 6994th Security Squadron at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam, and finally with Det 2, 6994th Security Squadron, Pleiku AB, Vietnam.
TSGT Gott was posthumously promoted to the rank of Technical Sergeant on 1June 1969. His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart (posthumously), Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and Vietnam Service Medal.
TSGT Gott is interred in a communal grave at site 347, section 81, Jefferson Barracks Cemetery, St. Louis, MO. His name is engraved on the Vietnam Veteran Memorial Wall on Panel 33W, line 65.
Building 1523 on Misawa AB, Japan was renamed Gott Memorial Hall in November 1987 in TSGT Gott’s honor. There is also a dining facility on Kelly AFB, TX named in his honor.
