R. L. Goodson was born on April 9, 1920 in Calhoun County, Mississipi to Raymond and Lillie Parker Goodson. He was one of nine children, having four brothers: Washie, CW, Ralph and Jack; and four sisters: Maye, Jewell, Pearl and Sue. His father was a farmer and he was raised with a strong work ethic. R. L. married Sue Barbee on May 10, 1941. They have four children: Nancy, David, Dannie and Ramona, 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

R. L. received his induction notice October 22, 1942 and entered service November 5, 1942 as part of the 90th Division, 359th Infantry, Company H. On March 23, 1944, R. L. departed for England on the English ship, the Queen Elizabeth. He remembered thinking as he passed the Statue of Liberty that it was probably the last time he would see it. It took 14 days for the trip to England.

They traveled from England to France on the Susan B. Anthony. Their ship hit a mine and they were delayed from being in the first wave on Omaha Beach. They were eventually loaded onto barges and were in the second wave on Omaha Beach having been delayed by about 4 hours.

"We were loaded on barges and headed for shore. When the barge stopped, the front end dropped down and the order came, "Hit the water". I was the second in line.....In our barge, all the men made it, but some of the other barges got shelled with one hundred men in them. No one could ever dream a dream as bad as it was. But remember we were four hours late. We had a picnic to what the others were in."

He served under Commanding Officers John H. Fisk and Samuel E. McCann in Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes and Germany.

R. L.'s company was completely replaced five times. He was one of only five survivors of his original company. R. L. was awarded the Purple Heart on July 3, 1944; a Silver Star on February 3, 1945; a Good Conduct Medal; EAMETO MED WDS; and a Bronze Star for each campaign he served in in Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes and Germany.

On April 17, 1945, R L started his long journey back to the United States. He arrived at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, May 15, 1945 where he received an honorable discharge.