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Adapted from "Captain Marcos A. Godinez, Medical Corps, United States Navy" [biography, dated 22 April 1964] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.

Topic
  • Medicine
Document Type
  • Biography
Wars & Conflicts
  • World War II 1939-1945
File Formats
Location of Archival Materials
  • NHHC-Library

Marcos Antonio Godinez

7 October 1909-[death date unknown]

Marcos Antonio Godinez was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, on October 7, 1909, son of Antonio Godinez, now deceased, and Mrs. Antonia Caloca Godinez of Rio Piedras. He was graduated from Georgetown University Medical School in 1933, and the next year interned at Georgetown University Hospital. Returning to Puerto Rico in 1934, after being appointed Diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners in 1934, he served for a year as Resident at Presbyterian Hospital, San Juan, and the next year became Chief of the Department of Obstetrics, Clinica Pereira Rio Piedras, P.R. There until 1942, he was also Attending Obstetrician at Rio Piedras Municipal Hospital; Visiting Obstetrician; Bayamon District Hospital; Consulting Obstetrician, Insular Tuberculosis Sanatarium; and Member of the Courtesy Obstetrics Staff of the Presbyterian Hospital, Santurce, P.R. He became a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons in 1941.

Commissioned Lieutenant in the Medical Corps of the US Navy in February 1942, he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in 1943, to Commander in 1945, and to Captain, to date from October 1, 1955.

Reporting for duty in April 1942, he served until March 1943 as Ward Medical Officer at the Naval Hospital, Naval Air Station, San Juan, with additional duty as Venereal Control Officer for the Station. He then became Ward Medical Officer in charge of the Dispensary Ward at the Army Training Base, Camp Bradford, Norfolk, Virginia, remaining there until November 1944, when he was ordered to duty afloat. During the latter months of World War II and until December 1945, he was Senior Medical Officer of the USS Ancon (AGC—4), an Amphibious Force Flagship which, while he was on board, participated in the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, in the Pacific War Area. While so attached, he additionally served as Head of the Medical Department of that vessel, as Sanitation Officer, and as a member of the Auditing Board and Summary Court Martial.

In March and April 1946 he was assigned to the Out Patient Department of the Naval Hospital, Pensacola, Florida, after which he returned to the

Naval Station, San Juan, Puerto Rico, for duty as Senior Medical Officer. He remained there until October 1948, when he was ordered to Washington, DC, to serve as Chief of Dependents Service, US Naval Dispensary. From March 1952 until July 1955 he had similar duty at the Naval Hospital, Quantico, Virginia, and in August 1955 was transferred to duty as Chief of Dependents Service at the Naval Hospital, Chelsea, Massachusetts.

On April 11, 1958 he was ordered to the Tenth Naval District, Headquarters in San Juan, P.R., for duty as District Medical Officer, and in June of 1960 he was transferred to the US Naval Mission to Venezuela, at Caracas, to serve as Medical Member. Under orders of August 15, 1962, he returned to Washington, DC, for duty at the Naval Dispensary, Navy Department.

A specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Godinez is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a member of the Puerto Pico Medical Association, of the Committee in Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Maternal Welfare Committee, and the A.K.K. Medical Fraternity. At one time he was Chairman for the Ruerto Rico Associated Diplomates National Board of Medical Examiners.

Captain Godinez has the American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one operation star; the World War II Victory Medal; Navy Occupation Service Medal, Asia Clasp; the National Defense Service Medal; and the Philippine liberation Ribbon.

END

Published: Fri May 21 11:17:42 EDT 2021