Joseph Wayne Goree is the son of First Sergeant Joseph and Mrs. Laura Goree and was born in Louisiana, MO. Joe moved around alot during his young life. Most times he didn't even stay in one place for a full year. His was the life of a career military family and Joe enjoyed all the places in the world he and his family lived. Joe spent time at his Uncle Don's house here in Edwardsville, and it was while here Joe met his future wife, Jackie Davis. Joe adopted Edwardsville as his hometown and was proud of it. After high school he joined the Army in August, 1984 and after boot camp he married Jackie in January, 1985. Private Goree was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky as a member of the 101st Airborne Division in May, 1985 when he deployed on a six month long multinational peacekeeping mission in Egypt's Sinai peninsula. His daughter, Cassandra Jean, was born in November while he was away. Pvt. Goree was on his way home to see, for the first time, his baby daughter. The 101st left Egypt for Cologne, West Germany then on to Gander, Newfoundland and finally home. The charter Arrow Air DC-8 was packed with 248 soldiers and eight crew, took off from Gander, climbed to 1000 feet and fell to earth, killing all aboard. It is the worst ever air disaster in Canadian history. Private Joseph W. Goree is survived by his father and mother, wife and daughter, three brothers, James, Ken and Kevin and a sister, Lisa and Uncle Don and is buried in Lebanon, MO. He was 19 years, 8 months and 15 days of age.
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