Lewis Frelan Goddard was born on May 9, 1924, in Proctor, Vermont. His parents were Carlyle J., then employed in the Vermont marble industry, and Elva Emmons Goddard. The Goddards moved to Knox County in April 1927 and Carlyle Goddard was employed as a draftsman and later as an engineer for a series of marble and construction companies.

Frelan first attended grade school at Park City Lowry but completed eighth grade at Smithwood Grammar School. He became active in Harry Metcalf’s Boy Scout Troop 25 when he became 12 years old. An early interest in bird study soon made him an expert in the identification of many species and he even developed an ability to nurse sick and injured birds back to health.

He matriculated at Central High School in 1939 and continued his interest in the outdoors by his membership in the Hiking Club each of the four years, serving as its president for two years.

During World War II, Frelan served in the Office of Strategic Services. He was accidentally killed during a night parachute jump on August 7, 1944, in Beddes, France, on a mission to help French resistance fighters against the Germans.

1Sgt Goddard is now buried in the Rhone American Cemetery and Memorial, France. He also has a cenotaph located in the Greenwood Cemetery in Tennessee.

Source of information: etvma.org, www.findagrave.com