George Gutierrez, Jr

Second Lieutenant
197TH AHC, 145TH AVN BN, 12TH AVN GRP, USARV
Army of the United States
20 January 1941 - 01 September 1965
Harlingen, Texas
Panel 02E Line 071

USARV

197TH AHC
Army Aviator

Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign

The database page for George Gutierrez, Jr

30 Sep 2005

He was a Texas A&M graduate Civil Engineer who volunteered to become a Army UH1 Huey helicopter pilot. The first-born grandson of Harlingen pioneer Eugenio and Sabas Gutierrez and the only son of Mr. and Mrs George Gutierrez Sr., he was the first casualty of the war for the City of Harlingen, Texas (Rio Grande Valley).

A City park is named in his honor along with a local middle school. Cousin George was a true Texas Aggie who left us 40 years ago this month in body, but not in spirit.

May God forever watch over him and all the other fallen Vietnam warriors.

Gene Marin
1st Field Forces
Battery "B" 4/60 Arty Dusters & Quad 50's
Plieku and Dak To
emarin@satx.rr.com

A Note from The Virtual Wall

On 1 Sep 1965 two Hueys from the 197th Aviation Company were providing helicopter escort for a road convoy. The lead aircraft was UH-1B tail number 63-08567. As the convoy approached Ben Cat, the crew noticed activity just east of the highway in a known VC area. As lead descended to investigate, he received heavy hostile fire, exploded in midair, and crashed. Four crewmen and one ARVN passenger died in the crash:
  • 1LT Carl J. Mangold, Castroville, TX, pilot;
  • 2LT George Gutierrez, Harlingen, TX, copilot;
  • SP5 William H. Eberhardt, Belmar, NJ, crew chief;
  • PFC Donald L. Arcand, Lowell, MA, gunner; and
  • ARVN passenger, name unknown, convoy liaison.
PFC Arcand was a "Shotgun" gunner on temporary duty from a 25th Infantry Division unit.


The point-of-contact for this memorial is
a cousin and Vietnam vet,
Gene Marin
5810 Woodcraft, San Antonio, Tx 78218
emarin@satx.rr.com
30 Sep 2005



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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Last updated 10/01/2005