Bryan G. Goddard was born on August 3, 1945, in Carthage, Missouri, and grew up in Houston, Texas. He graduated from Texas Tech University in 1968 with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. He began his service in Vietnam in April of 1969 and served with the Recon Platoon, E Company, 1st Battalion, 505th Infantry, 3rd Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division. During his service he was an infantryman, radio-telephone operator and tunnel rat in the III Corps Tactical Zone, operating around the HoboWoods, Iron Triangle, and Parrot's Beak areas. During his service, he earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, a Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal, an Expert Marksmanship Badge (Rifle, Auto Rifle), and the Vietnam Service Medal. He has two children: Christine and Mike.