Gustave Guenther

Their Story

On March 23, 1916, Gustave Guenther was born in Davenport, Iowa, to Gustav and Laura Guenther.^[1] After high school, Gustave worked as an electric arc welder at Innes Company in Bettendorf.^[2] He joined the Army on March 30, 1941, serving during World War II. He spent two and a half years training at Fort Meade, South Dakota. He was sent to serve all over the world, including Africa, Middle East, Central Europe, and Northern France.^[3]

Gustave served as a Tec-5.^[4] In January of 1942, the Army created the Tec ranks. There were Tec-3, Tec-4, and Tec-5’s. This stood for Technician Third Grade, Technician Fourth Grade, and Technician Fifth Grade. Technicians were military personnel that had technical skills instead of combat skills. Technicians were removed as a rank in 1948. However, it was brought back as a rank in 1955.^[5]

Gustave earned a Bronze Star Medal and a Purple Heart Medal during his service.^[6] He earned the Bronze Star Medal for admirable service for his involvement in operations against the enemy in Germany and Belgium.^[7] He was a member of the medical detachment of the 24th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron. He earned the Purple Heart after being wounded on July 5, 1944, during the Normandy invasion.^[8] The Normandy invasion is also called “D-Day.” The D-Day invasion started on June 6, 1944. About 156,000 soldiers from Canada, Great Britain, and the U.S. invaded five beaches on the Normandy coast that were under German control. Gustave also participated in the Battle of the Bulge.^[9] In late August of 1944, the Germans had been defeated in Normandy. This was the beginning of the war ending in Europe.^[10]

Gustave began working for Innes Co. in Bettendorf, Iowa, after the war. He worked there for 29 years. Later, he worked for McLaughlin Body Co. for twelve years. He retired in 1988.^[11]

On August 23, 1947, Gustave married Mary Beert in Long Grove, Iowa. They had four children together, Patricia, Cynthia, Kevin, and John. His family remembers him as loving to play cards, admiring riverboats, and traveling.^[12]

On July 14, 2002, Gustave passed away after an illness. He was buried in the Rock Island Arsenal for his service during the Army.^[13]