Kenneth Alric Gore

Sergeant
A CO, 1ST BN, 27TH INF RGT, 25 INF DIV
Army of the United States
02 July 1948 - 03 June 1967
Shallotte, North Carolina
Panel 21E Line 046

25 INF DIV 27TH INF RGT
Combat Infantry

Bronze Star (2 awards), Purple Heart, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign
Kenneth A Gore

The database page for Kenneth Alric Gore

10 Oct 2003

What a beautiful brother you were. Always smiling and those blue eyes just twinkled. You had a way with people, making them feel special. Everyone that knew you loved you. It has been over 36 years since you left us and we will never forget you. I still have people tell me what a wonderful caring guy you were. Just the other day a new friend told me that you were her first date. She commented on what a polite sweet person you were. I was only seven when you left us but I will never forget you. I know that you loved us all but you had to go. You really believed that it was your duty and willingly volunteered to go. Even in your letters one could tell that you wanted to be there helping others. All of us are still proud of you. For us you represent the essence of a hero. I thank you for your sacrifice and for caring for God's people. I will never forget that freedom comes with a price and you gave the ultimate. I hope that when your friends think of you they remember what you did for your country and try to make the world a better place.

I love you, bro.
Your little sis...
Tammy



16 Feb 2005

To anyone whose loved one was a part of this group of eight...

You must never forget the love these men had for their country.

They believed in freedom and were trying to help those who could not help themselves. Every time you help another person you are exuding their essence of love for your fellow man. I would love to find out a bit about these heros. One way is to make a web page for them. People do read them and it is an easy way honor them. If you are interested in talking about your family member please contact me. We might find out we have had a lot in common.

PEACE ALWAYS

From his sister,
Tammy Gore Cully
Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina



04 Dec 2005

Last month I traveled to Vietnam with a group of people for a medical mission. It was so heartwarming to meet the Vietnamese people. They are so humble and kind. This trip gave me closure on a long journey of sorrow. I have lived most of my life wondering why my brother was killed in this foreign land... Why he chose to volunteer to go there. Was there anything good that came out of this war? I found the answer. Kenny believed in GOD and His love for all people. He also believed at a young age that freedom is a precious thing. He believed that he was fighting a war to help GOD'S people be free... Free to worship, free to speak, free to live their lives in peace. If he died with that vision he was doing GOD'S work. That is the greatest legacy that a person can leave.

It was not meant to be that they would have their freedom at that time. Now, 38 years later, the people of Vietnam are just at a crossroad. Two-thirds of the population were born since 1975. They are young and hungry for the word. I had a wonderful opportunity to be in country for 14 days see this for myself. I believe that even though we did not "win" the war, we left an impact on the people. Even today they are so interested in America. I feel that the greatest thing that we can do in our lost one's memory is to help these people. Maybe one day they can say that they have FREEDOM.

From his sister,
Tammy Gore Cully
tcully@atmc.net




31 May 2004

Kenny was so young when he left us serving his country on 06-02-67.
He had decided early that he wanted to be in the Army and he was
determined to serve. He was so young when KIA, but he had a lot
of living in his nineteen years. As his oldest brother he is still
missed every day. I salute his sacrifice.

From his brother,
Edward O. Gore
1032 Amity Rd., Asheboro, NC 27203
egore@triad.rr.com

17 Feb 2005

Harry E. Geary was my brother. I was 17 when he died and he was 19. We were together all the time and his death has changed the lives of my whole family. He will remain in our hearts forever. Thank you for having him listed here.

Bonnie Bethke
1069 CR 1175, Mountain Home, Ar. 72653
buttnski@centurytel.net

30 Sep 2005

It is with great pride that I submit these short but heart-felt words about my lifelong friend, Kenny Gore (family members and people who knew him called him Kenny).

I have known Kenny for as long as I can remember anything. We grew up in the same community, went to the same church, went to 12 years of school together. We laughed together, we worked together (harvesting tobacco), we enjoyed our young years together.

When we were in High School, I think it was our Senior year, the USMC recruiter came and talked to our class. Kenny, myself and another friend and classmate of ours talked to him about "The Buddy System" and when he told us that all he could guarantee us being together was Basic Training, we decided not to pursue it.

Right out of High School Kenny joined the Army, Danny (our other friend) joined the Marines and went to Vietnam, he was lucky enough to make it back. I didn't join the USAF until I was almost drafted, I had a "1A" classification, that was in 1969. I was extremely fortunate enough not to have to go to Vietnam. I will always cherish my memories of me and Kenny for the rest of my life. He was a "one of a kind" friend.

May the Lord keep and preserve your memory and legacy forever in the mind of your friends and family.

A friend and pal forever,
Joe Gupton "SHS 1966"
cidneybelle@atmc.net

PS: I'll see you one day in Heaven, my friend. "PEACE" to all who read this.

29 Nov 2005

Kenny was my brother. He was six years older than me. His death left a big hole in our family that still exists today. I feel like someone's missing during family "get togethers" even now, 38 years later.

He was so full of life, always thinking of new ways of getting in trouble. I learned a lot from him, mostly how to stay out of trouble. He was a good kid.

My last memory of Kenny was the morning he left for Charlotte with my parents. He hugged me and told me he loved me. That was a very special moment and one I will always cherish because he had never told me that before.

Often I think of what our lives would be like if he still was with us. Kenny would have been a good husband and father. Sometimes when I look at my two sons I see that little mischievous look in them that reminds me of their uncle that they never had the privilege to know. They could have been best buddies.

I thank him for his sacrifice and will always keep him in my heart and know that we will be together again one day.

From his sister,
Barbara Gore Varnam
bgvarnam@ec.rr.com

14 Apr 2006

The current war in Iraq brings back memories of Vietnam, and of course our classmate, Kenny Gore. Kenny was not afraid to go to Vietnam, and I can remember his conversation with some of the other boys in Mrs. Hazel Williams' room, our English class, at the end of our senior year. Some were saying he should not go, but he was saying he would go and get his over with, and they would still have theirs to do.

He sat near the back in Algebra class, and gave Edna Russ a hard time. I remember him clowning around always, named "wittiest" in the senior superlatives, and I remember him in his cap and gown on graduation day, still clowning around, as we prepared to march in the old auditorium of Shallotte High School. We were the class of 1966. It was probably the last time I ever saw him.

In May 2003, we held a Memorial Day Service as part of Celebrate Shallotte. In front of our old fourth grade building, Sunnyside, now on the old SHS site, we remembered Kenny with a wreath laying at the flag pole. Captain Ronald "Stick" Hewett, USN Retired, also a classmate, spoke of Kenny's friendship and bravery, and was assisted with the wreath-laying by Kenny's own nephew, from West Brunswick's JROTC, who reminded us all so much of Kenny.

Sitting by Stick on the bleachers that day, in those familiar surroundings, we drifted back to high school days, and it was hard to imagine that it had been 37 years to the day since we had seen Kenny, in that very spot. He was very much alive in our memories that day as he is every day.

Barbara Skipper Stanley
SHS Class of 1966
Shallotte, North Carolina
barbara@skippergraphics.com

22 Apr 2006

Kenny was raised in rural southeastern North Carolina. He had a great love for his family and the outdoors. Kenny was five years my elder but always treated me as an equal. I was raised about a mile from Kenny on a dirt road and my closest neighbors were his grandfather and grandmother.

One summer day when I was about twelve years old I saw Kenny walking toward me from his grandparents' home. As he approached, he was wearing cut-off jeans, a t-shirt and work boots. He was carrying a machete. When he saw me, we started a conversation and he told me that he was going to cut bean poles for his granddad, Mr. Tom. I saw a possible opportunity to get to tag along, and Kenny being the perceptive guy that he was quickly picked up on my intentions and asked if I wanted to go with him. Great! I yelled to my mom that I was going with Kenny and off we went.

The area where the sassafras grew that were to be used for the poles was very sandy and covered with cactus and good old southern sandspurs. As Kenny started cutting his carefully selected poles I came to a rather quick and pointed revelation. I was barefooted. In my haste I had forgotten to go and put on shoes. I could go no further. Kenny started to laugh and said that we would get through it. To keep me with him, Kenny had me ride him piggy-back from one clear spot to another until he had finished cutting and stacking the poles. When we got back to my house I told him good-bye, thanked him, and we parted.

It was not until the day that Kenny was laid to rest that I fully realized the importance of that summer afternoon. We all either carry or are being carried at some point in our lives. Kenny Gore's memory will carry always in the hearts of all who knew him.

From a friend,
Don O. Stanley
1933 Whiteville Road N W, Ash, N C 28420
surfnkayak@atmc.net

27 Aug 2006

I was born several years after your death, but I always enjoy the stories my dad shares about the two of you. Dad told me you guys really got crazy when you were in high school. I know I would have enjoyed meeting you. I met your parents when I was a kid and I was instantly impressed with your mom and dad. Thank you for your sacrifice.

From the son of a childhood friend, Terry Blackburn,
Andrew Blackburn
thetachi111@yahoo.com

31 Dec 2006

SHS 1966, 40th Reunion

Last night, 12/30/06, the 1966 Class of Shallotte High School held its 40th Reunion. I want Kenny's family to know that his picture was posted at the reception table and in the program. Classmates shared tales of Kenny and his mischief. We still remember.

From a high school classmate,
Barbara Stanley
E-Mail will be forwarded by the
Webmaster@VirtualWall.org

03 Jan 2007

Hi, I just wanted to say that I am very touched to have found this memorial to Kenny. He has been on my mind off and on for all these years and I am very pleased to find this site. It seems to me that Kenny was born to be a soldier. I can remember him in high school studying "The Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich". That memory is over 40 years old. His sacrifice will never be forgotten.

From a friend,
Bryan Varnam
3300 Stone Chimney Rd., Supply, N C
bvarnam@atmc.net

03 Jan 2007

This past weekend we had our 40th Shallotte High School class reunion. Needless to say Kenny was dearly missed as were 10 other classmates. But Kenny was so very special. He was my first cousin and felt like a brother to me. We grew up next door to each other and being the same age we had a lot in common. We hung out together with our friends at school. Special friends like Sarah, Terry, and Kenneth Johnston. We attended the same church where we got into trouble all the time, mainly because of our grandfather (Big Daddy).

I can remember exactly where I was the day we heard he had been killed and how I felt the days after. I was so confused about the whole thing, missing him and being so proud of him for giving his life for freedom! He was doing what he always wanted to do. He always wore Army attire, loved wearing that. There are so many things I think of when I think back to those days in 1966 and 67. We worked in tobacco together and he picked up trash at Ocean Isle Beach but of course he said he was a sanitation engineer!! We all got a good laugh with that one.

I miss him so much, even today all these years later. He has never been forgotten by us all and it was so true at the reunion. I will always be proud of him for giving his all for us and the Vietnamese people.

He was a true friend to me always and some day I will see him again in heaven.

To my buddy, friend and cuz, I love you always.

From his cousin,
Marcia Gore Smith
3819 Longwood Road NW, Ash, North Carolina
moose@2khiway.net

A Note from The Virtual Wall

A Company, 1/27 Infantry, lost eight men on 03 June 1967:
  • SGT Kenneth A. Gore, Shallotte, NC
  • SGT Aubrey L. Hewitt, Decatur, GA
  • SGT George D. Wallace, Dry Fork, VA
  • CPL Willie G. Dyer, Lakeland, FL
  • CPL Harry E. Geary, Beloit, WI
  • CPL Taylor H. McLemore, Boligee, AL
  • SP4 James W. Price, Monroe, NC
  • CPL Larry V. Sayers, Lick Creek, KY
The 17 July 1967 issue of the 25th Infantry Division's newspaper, Tropic Lightning News, carried information about recent decorations. Among others were the following entries:
  • BRONZE STAR (VALOR)
    • SP4 Kenneth A. Gore, Co A, 1st Bn, 27th Inf
    • SP4 Aubrey L. Hewitt, Co A, 1st Bn, 27th Inf

  • BRONZE STAR (MERIT)
    • SP4 Kenneth A. Gore, Co A, 1st Bn, 27th Inf
    • SP4 Aubrey L. Hewitt, Co A, 1st Bn, 27th Inf


The point-of-contact for this memorial is
his sister,
Tammy Gore Cully
1580 Goose Creek Rd S W, Ocean Isle Beach, N C 28469
tcully@atmc.net



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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 14 Sep 1998
Last updated 04/15/2007