In Memory

Gary Kemph

February 4, 1946 - May 7, 1990

 



 
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01/04/14 03:38 AM #1    

Doug Timmins

I was not in Gary's inner circle, but I got to know him through several classes and having some common interests.  With Gary's academic and sports accomplishments, he could have put on airs, but he never did in my presence.  He was always kind and respectful of others.  He was also generally quiet by nature and driven by inner goals.  I viewed Gary as a superb athlete and a person that would accomplish great things in the future.  It is sad that his life was cut short, as for others in the "In Memory" section.

I did a little investigation into Gary's history because I was interested in where his life had taken him.  I gathered the information below from several people-finder, open literature, university and military sources on the internet.  The information below I hope is correct, but I could not 100% verify all of it.  In the process of my searching, I was also told that Gary might have been a casualty during the U.S. invasion of Panama - Operation Just Cause, which occurred in December 1989 and January 1990, but the timing of his death, including consideration of the information listed below, and the list of the U.S. forces lost as a result of the Panama conflict didn't match.  Based on updated information that I received as a result of my initial comments (both from Art Wilson and Richard Erdmann), it appears that Gary died from an accident in his home.  If others have better information concerning Gary's life after college, let me know, and perhaps you will correct my information with added comments.

  • Attained the rank of Captain in the Green Berets while in Vietnam.
  • Acquired a PhD in agriculture from Michigan State University.
  • Worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development (U.S. AID) for approximately 10 years, including a number of years as a U.S. AID representative in the Dominican Republic.

01/05/14 03:54 PM #2    

Arthur Wilson

Gary was a good friend and classmate in math at Lee in 7th and 8th grade.  We both loved math and loved the outdoors... He was a great role model... I heard that he died from injuries in an accident at home related to his back injuries about 25 years ago...

 

Art


02/20/20 03:38 PM #3    

William (Bill ) Hamrick

I ran into Gary in Vietnam when I went to the R&R (rest& recreation )center in Vietnam. Gary was on his way to Hawaii and I was on my way Hong Kong. We talked and Gary was an Infantry leader platoon leader. I was a Cobra helicopter gunship pilot. When I discovered the unit he was with, I discovered that just the last week it was he that I responded to for urgent gun support. It was reported that a unit about 10 miles from me was in heavy contact and on the verge of being overun. I called my LOH to come up to my altitude and that we were going to the aid of a unit. I contacted him on the radio and got him to pop smoke to fix his position and begin gun runs. He reported that they had begun to withdraw and that there had been screams after each gun run, and that each run there had less volume of return fire. I reported to him that I had expended all of my ordinance, and my Air Force FAC above me had F-4's inbound with napalm. As I was leaving to rearm and refuel, I told him his voice sounded familiar, and that I wish we could say names over the radio. During the conversation, Gary said that was me that you supported, and thanked me. We embraced, and I told him I was glad to do it. On my way back from Hong Kong, Glenda Burney was the stewardess. She told me she had run into Gary on his way to her flight to Hawaii. I told her my story, and I thought what a small world it really was. 3 people that went to Lee together meeting half way around the world.

02/20/20 03:51 PM #4    

William (Bill ) Hamrick

I saw Gary again at 2 reunions. Gary had cleared up a mystery for me back when we met in Vietnam. I had received a medal in support of a platoon of the 25th Infantry. All I knew was where it came from, but not the officer that had recommended it. Gary recommended me for the Distinguished Flying Cross, but the medal got downgraded to the Air Medal with V device for Valor .

02/21/20 11:25 AM #5    

Robert Lynn "Bob" McGowen

I am humbled.

Bob McGowen


02/22/20 09:42 PM #6    

Jan Maierhofer (Herrington)

Why is this just now posted if he passed away in 1990.

I am so sorry for our loss of such a fine person! I hate that I am just now aware of this great loss! jh


02/23/20 03:58 PM #7    

Paula Goodrich (Jungmann)

Jan this was first posted in 2014

 


02/23/20 07:26 PM #8    

Jan Maierhofer (Herrington)

OK and thanks----sorry I don't get on our site that regularlly so I must be way behind. Just couldn't understand why others were posting comments if his death wasn't recent! Thank you for correcting me.


We lost a good one-----------again! jh 


02/24/20 10:15 AM #9    

Paula Goodrich (Jungmann)

Not correcting...just clearing the question...I suppose it's like all of us now days we don't get on the net often.  Someone finally found out in 2014 and others got on the class page and wondered about Gary and found the notice and felt compelled to write something...it's all good.

 


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