THREE HEROES

Although I was born in Schaghticoke, New York I lived in the northern part of Troy--known as Lansingburgh--during my school years. Many of my friends and classmates were sent to Vietnam during the war. Three of them didn't return alive. To me they will always be My Three Heroes.

Raymond W Tymeson Jr. was born in Troy on 29 March 1948. (Years ago I read that his birth date was 31 March 1948 but thanks to Bob Smith, one of Ray's other friends, I now know he was born on 29 March 1948.) His family was Catholic while mine was Protestant. Ray attended Catholic schools and was an altar boy in church. He loved sports especially baseball.

After graduating from Catholic Central High School in Lansingburgh he joined the Marines in 1967. After training he was sent to Vietnam in 1968. Doug Stewart met him in Vietnam. He sent me these photos of Ray that were taken at Phu Loc 6. They may very well be the last pictures to be taken of my friend.

Nine months after arriving in-country Ray's Company B, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division came under intense fire near DaNang and they were caught in an ambush. Ray was sent to knock out an machine gun. He was caught in enemy machine gun crossfire and shot in both of his legs as well as his neck. One of the bullets severed his carotid artery. Two medics tried to save him, one of them was killed also.

Ray was a 20 year old Lance Corporal when he died on 2 December 1968 in QuangNam Province. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star. His remains were returned to Troy where he was buried on Christmas Eve. Ray's name can be found on Panel 37W Line 22 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He is buried in St. Peter's Cemetery in Troy, NY. Bob Smith, who went to high school with me and was also Ray's friend, visited Ray's gravesite in June 2008 and sent me these photos of it--just click on them to enlarge:

Paul J Baker, born on 23 August 1948 in Troy, was also Catholic. He was the valedictorian from Catholic Central High School. He received a full tuition scholarship to Massachusetts Institute of Technology. But during his second year at college he quit and enlisted in the Marines. He was enroute to Vietnam.

The 9th Marines were north of DaNang in QuangTri Province. Paul's unit encountered the enemy and was in a running gun battle for five days.

Paul was a corporal at 21 when he died on 29 March 1969. His name is located on Panel 28W Line 78 on The Wall.

Catholic Central High School's Class of 1966 collected $2,000 to start the Tymeson-Baker Memorial Scholarship fund.

Peter M Guenette came into this world in Troy on 4 January 1948. He graduated from Catholic Central High School in 1965 and enlisted in the Army in 1967. He too was headed for Vietnam. For some reason I thought Pete went to LaSalle Institute, a military school in Troy, but a couple of folks have told me differently and thus I have made this update. I'm sorry for this error. Thanks to Bob Ashdown (CCHS-64) and Jack Berkery (CCHS-65) for verifying Pete's info. Bob lived across the street from the Guenette family, was in class with Pete's sister Linda and went to the prom with her and he knew Pete well. Bob even got to see Pete the summer before Pete went into the Army. Meanwhile Jack said that his wife was a good friend of Paul Baker--she was in the CCHS class of '66!

The 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) was in the QuanTanUyen Province. Pete was assigned to Company D of the 2nd Battalion (Abn), 506th Infantry, 3rd Brigade.

Trained as a machine gunner Pete was sent on a mission to assist a LRRP team. They were heavily engaged with a company sized enemy unit that had extensive bunker and tunnel system in the province.

Pete and his assistant gunner were laying down suppression fire to allow the rest of his platoon to move forward. Meanwhile two other soldiers joined Pete to help out. Suddenly an enemy grenade was thrown at them and landed next to Pete. He knew it would kill or wound all of them as well as disable his machine gun. Pete yelled, "GRENADE" and jumped on it. His body absorbed the blast. For his actions that day he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Pete's citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, Sp4c. Guenette distinguished himself while serving as a machine gunner with Company D, during combat operations. While Sp4c. Guenette's platoon was sweeping a suspected enemy base camp, it came under light harassing fire from a well equipped and firmly entrenched squad of North Vietnamese Army regulars which was serving as a delaying force at the entrance to their base camp. As the platoon moved within 10 meters of the fortified positions, the enemy fire became intense. Sp4c. Guenette and his assistant gunner immediately began to provide a base of suppressive fire, ceasing momentarily to allow the assistant gunner time to throw a grenade into a bunker. Seconds later, an enemy grenade was thrown to Sp4c. Guenette's right flank. Realizing that the grenade would kill or wound at least 4 men and destroy the machine gun, he shouted a warning and smothered the grenade with his body, absorbing its blast. Through his actions, he prevented loss of life or injury to at least 3 men and enabled his comrades to maintain their fire superiority. By his gallantry at the cost of his life in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, Sp4c. Guenette has reflected great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

There is now an effort to have a Medal of Honor marker placed on Pete's gravesite. Several folks became involved with this when it was made known that Pete's headstone was from a civilian company and not the military. I'd like to thank Don Morfe for sharing this photo he took of Pete's current headstone. Don and the others are searching for Pete's surviving family to get an approval for this to be done since the cemetery said it will gladly allow it but the family must approve it first. Don added this photo to the Find A Grave site--thanks Don!

Having reached the rank of Specialist 4, Pete was dead at age 20 on 18 May 1968. His name is on The Wall's Panel 62E Line 18.

I'd like to thank Don Morfe for continuing his efforts to get approval for the Medal of Honor marker for Pete's grave. He has been successful at last and sent me these two photos to prove it was done.

Some time ago Randy Adcox contacted me. His Uncle Sammy served with Pete and had some photos he wanted to share with me. Randy's note stated--

My uncle (Sammy Adcox) served with your friend Pete Guenette in Vietnam. While going through some old pictures my uncle found last week, we came across a "group" shot of several of the guys who served together in Vietnam, and Pete was among the group. My uncle's name was originally left out of the picture (since he was identifying everyone else), but I've since gone in and edited the picture, and included my uncle's name in the picture. I also did a "blow up" of Pete that's a little clearer than the image of him in the "main" picture. One more thing.. I've also got a group picture of the entire unit taken in Fort Campbell, KY just before they left for Vietnam in 1967. Not everyone in the group has been identified, but Pete has been, and though it's a rather larger file (app 2.5 MB) if you'd like a copy of it, I'll be happy to send it to you. Lastly, I just want you to know that I've had the great pleasure & honor of talking to several of the men who served with my uncle Sammy & Pete, and I can tell you that they have nothing but the highest respect for Pete, and it's been very obvious to me, that he was a well liked fellow by all who served with him. I've also had the pleasure of telling "Pete's story" several times over the last few months, and every time I tell his story, the result is always the same - stunned silence for a moment, and then there's always some sort of comment like, "WOW! What a hero!". I only wish I had the honor of knowing Pete while he was alive - I'm certain he was the kind of fellow that I would've been glad to have known! If you ever have the occasion to speak with any of his family, please extend my sincere condolences for their loss, and my heart-felt thanks for the service and sacrifices that Pete made for his country. He was (and still IS!!) a great example of a trued American hero!

Here are Sammy's photos that Randy sent me--

On the left is D Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry before they left Fort Campbell. Pete is standing in the 4th row from the bottom--5th man from the right!

The center photo is Pete's group of guys while in Vietnam. They are identified as Back row (L-R) Hudson, Sammy Adcox, Behrig, Daniels, and Petty while the Front row is Guptil, Pete Guenette, Boudreau (who passed away in 06) and March. Special thanks to an old friend of mine Jim Davey who informed me that the Boudreau in this photo was Dave Boudreau also from Troy. Dave and Pete joined the Army together under the Buddy System. Dave was about 30-40 meters from Pete during the fatal firefight. Until Dave's own death in '06, he always praised his friend Pete!

Randy surprised Sammy by arranging a reunion of some of the company that Pete and Sammy served with in Vietnam. They gathered in Raleigh, NC for the first time in many years. Randy took Sammy to it and Pete's siblings also attended. Sammy passed away shortly after the reunion. I'm sure he is now partying in heaven with Pete!

I heard from John Ives who also knew Pete. He wanted to let me know something that I might not have known--and he was so right. I already wrote to a friend of mine at Ft Campbell in hopes that he or his wife can get me photos! BUT John wrote--

I would like to pass on to you some information about Peter that you might not know. During my military career, I had occasion to visit Ft. Campbell, KY. Are you aware that a building is named after Peter at Ft. Campbell? I discovered that while I was at Ft. Campbell. The building is the Peter Guenette Arts & Crafts Building. It is across the street from the base library on the road that leads to division headquarters. Also, Peter's picture hangs in the lobby of the base's army museum. I can assure you that it is an eerie feeling standing in front of a building on a military base that is named after someone you went to high school with.

CPT Marty Small and his wife Ivy has taken and sent me these photos--taken of the plaque showing that the building was named for Pete, along with his citation, his paratrooper photo and his photo which hangs in the museum. Now I can't wait to visit Ft Campbell again to see these two buildings for myself! Thanks John for telling me about this honor to Pete and special thanks to Marty and Ivy for taking and sending me the photos! Just click on each to see the larger and more readable plaque and citation.

In addition, over the past few months I've received notes from Ray's cousin, a couple who were best friends with his younger brother, and a couple of his friends including one I even remembered--some of whom knew all three guys. I feel really good knowing that I've been able to help these people remember Ray, Paul and Pete by honoring these three young men with this website. One of the many emails I received is: