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Contact Info
Home Town Bremerhaven
Last Address Georgetown, CA
Date of Passing May 29, 1982
Wall/Plot Coordinates Georgetown Pioneer Cemetery, CA
Earl Gurnsey was born on July 22, 1948, in Bremerhaven, Germany, and later immigrated to the United States. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on March 10, 1966, and completed basic training at Fort Ord, California, in May 1966.
Gurnsey next completed Wireman School at Fort Ord in June 1966, Lineman School at Fort Gordon, Georgia, in August 1966, and Basic Airborne training at Fort Benning, Georgia, in September 1966.
His first assignment was as a wireman with Company A of the 501st Signal Battalion at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, from September 1966 to April 1967, followed by service as a radio mechanic and field wireman with Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment of the 173rd Airborne Brigade in South Vietnam from June 1967 to August 1968.
SP4 Gurnsey then volunteered for a 2nd tour of duty in Vietnam, and served as a UH-1 Iroquois helicopter door gunner with the 118th Assault Helicopter Company in South Vietnam from August 1968 until he was captured and taken as a Prisoner of War in Cambodia on November 27, 1968.
After spending 41 days in captivity he was released by his captors on January 6, 1969. SP4 Gurnsey was medically evacuated back to the United States, and was hospitalized at Letterman General Hospital in San Francisco, California, from January 1969 until he was medically retired from the Army on August 13, 1969.
Earl Gurnsey died on May 29, 1982, and was buried at the Georgetown Pioneer Cemetery in Georgetown, California.
Other Comments:
SP4 Earl F. Gurnsey was the door gunner aboard Bandit UH-1C, 66-15015 on 27 November 1968 when the aircraft was struck by .51 cal anti-aircraft fire at XT238290 in the Tay Ninh area, near the Cambodian border.
All aboard the UH-1C gun ship were KIA, except Gurnsey. All efforts to recover SP4 Gurnsey were unsuccessful by both ARVN and 25th Division troops. Some eyewitnesses have said that, "when they flew over the wreckage and tried to drive the enemy soldiers from the area, a "waving hand" could be seen extending from the wrecked aircraft!"
When U.S. troops finally reached the wreckage, the remains of the three crew KIA members were found.
Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase VI Campaign (1968-69)
From Month/Year
November / 1968
To Month/Year
February / 1969
Description This campaign was from 2 November 1968 to 22 February 1969. In November 1968 the South Vietnam government with American support began a concentrated effort to expand security in the countryside. This project was known as the "Accelerated Pacification Campaign."
This period covers the election of President Richard M. Nixon and a change of policy brought about by his administration after January 1969 when he announced a coming end to US combat in Southeast Asia and a simultaneous strengthening of South Vietnam's ability to defend itself. Formal truce negotiations began in Paris on January 25, 1969. The period can be characterized as marking time in preparation for an about face. Forty-seven ground combat operations were recorded during this period, the following being the most important:
(1). Operation NAPOLEON in the Dong Ha area initiated previously (1967) by Marine units, terminated on 9 December 1968.
(2). Operation WHEELER WALLOWA by 3d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division and 196th Infantry Brigade (Light) in north-central Quan Tin Province. This ended on 11 November.
(3). Operation MACARTHUR initiated by 4th U.S. Infantry Division in II Corps tactical zone terminated on 31 January 1969.
(4). Operation COCHISE GREEN conducted by the 173d Airborne Brigade in Binh Dinh Province.
(5). Operation TOAN THANG II consisted of ground operations throughout III CTZ. This was a multi-division operation involving allied forces.
(6). Operation SEA LORDS was a coast and riverine operation. On 6 December Operation GIANT SLINGSHOT was started to disrupt enemy infiltration of materials from the "Parrot's Beak" area of Cambodia. Air operations continued to be important with over 60,000 sorties flown.