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Corporal Bruce J. Guex
Corporal Bruce J. Guex
Corporal Bruce J. Guex’s grave.
Corporal Bruce J. Guex
Bruce J. Guex was born May 26, 1949 to John and Joyce (Adelbush) Guex. Bruce was the second of three children.
Bruce grew up in Shawano and had many friends. He loved fast cars and a good time. He graduated from Shawano High School in 1967. While in school he participated in intramural sports, ran cross country, wrestled and was on the prom committee his junior year.
Upon graduation from high school, Bruce worked in the family business, Shawano Distributing until he was drafted on August 16, 1968 at the age of 19. Bruce completed 8 weeks of basic training and 8 weeks of advanced training as an infantry indirect fire crewman (mortars). After training, he spent Christmas 1968 at home on leave. He then reported to Vietnam on January 10, 1969.
Upon arrival, he was assigned to Company C, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 196th Light Infantry Brigade, 23rd Infantry Division. The unit operated in the northern province of Quang Tin near Chu Lai. On February 9, 1969, he was wounded while digging foxholes when he struck a buried hostile explosive. He received fragmentation wounds to the chest, left arm, and face with corneal abrasions to both eyes. His parents were advised by Western Union telegram that he was hospitalized but his wounds were not serious so no future reports would be furnished.
Bruce recovered from his fragmentation wounds and returned to duty. On March 6, 1969, while on patrol, he was killed by small arms fire. He was 19 years old and had been in Vietnam less than two months and had been in the army almost seven months.
Funeral services for Corporal Bruce J. Guex were conducted on Tuesday, March 18, 1969 at 1:30pm at St. James Lutheran Church in Shawano. Reverend Harold G. Parsch officiated with internment in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Military rites were conducted at the cemetery by an honor guard from Fort Sheridan, Illinois. Born Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. The marble grave marker came from the Vermont Marble Company, Proctor, Vermont.
Corporal Bruce J. Guex’s awards are:
Army Combat Infantryman Badge
Bronze Star
2 Purple Hearts
Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal