Marvin Lawson Gooden was born on March 14, 1923, in Fillmore, Ventura County, California. He enlisted in the service on March 12, 1943. He served in the 602nd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, as a Technical Sergeant and Top Turret Gunner of B-17 #42-97387 nicknamed ''Maude an Maria'' during World War II.

On February 3, 1945, during a bombing mission over Berlin, the Maude an' Maria was involved in a mid-air collision with another B-17, serial number 43-38697, from the 603rd Bomb Squadron. The collision occurred approximately an hour after bombs were released, and both aircraft crashed near Lehmke, close to Gardelegen, Germany. Of the ten crew members aboard Maude an' Maria, seven were killed in action, and the remaining three survived the crash and were captured, becoming prisoners of war.

TSgt Gooden was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Bardsdale Cemetery, Fillmore, Ventura County, California, USA. Marvin L. Gooden's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 1 (left), on Butterfly 4, in the bottom right wing (section D).

Source of information: www.americanairmuseum.com, www.398th.org