Charles Dempsey Guntner

August 14, 1932 - August 4, 2018

Charles D. Guntner was an Infantry Indirect Fire Non Commissioned Officer
with Company B 1/22 Infantry 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam 1969.

Charles Dempsey Guntner, age 85, passed away Saturday, August 4th, 2018 in a hospital in Houston, Texas,
due to complications with pneumonia and Parkinson's disease. This was his last and greatest battle.

Charles was born in Westville, Florida on Aug. 14, 1932 and graduated from Bonifay High School. He joined the National Guard
when he was still a teenager and was called into the Korean War and where he served with the U.S. Army Infantry. He married
his wife, Kazuko in Okinawa and had three children. Later, he was stationed at Fort Polk, La. as a drill and platoon sergeant
and fought in the Vietnam War. He retired from the U.S Army after 20 years and he moved his family to the New Orleans area
where he worked as a campus police officer for Tulane University. He was an expert and avid fisherman and hunter.

Even having won an occasional fishing rodeo award of the few he entered Charles was a handyman and did most large and
small house projects and mechanical repairs on his own. We are not sure if this was a hobby or due to his ideas of being
an independent man, having grown up in the country during hard times and having been to two major wars. He also tried
to keep physically fit and active up until his old injuries and illnesses slowed him down. Besides his tough exterior
probably due to his years in service and the untold emotions he had from war experiences, he had a different side as well.

Charles loved and respected animals, nature and people and cultures. The family always had pets around the home and even
some usually ones, wild or domesticated. He would bring home an occasional hurt or abandoned animal. He supported
causes such Christian ministries and American Indian children homes. Having served in the military he respected the men
of different cultures he fought in combat with. So he enjoyed talking to people from different cultures, even with college
students as a campus police officer. One of his admirable traits as a father and a man was his leadership skills,
no nonsense straightforward talk and work ethic. Traits that earned respect from those that even disagreed with him.

He will be missed by his family and all who knew him. Charles is survived by his wife, Kazuko; daughter, Janiece; two sons,
Bobby and Mike and five grandchildren, Zachary, Sophie, Jonathan, Angelina and Charles. There will be a graveside service
on Monday, August 13, 2018 at 2:15 pm at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77038.
The family has entrusted arrangements to Claire Brothers Funeral Home, 7901 Hillcroft Street, Houston, Texas.

Published online on Aug. 7, 2018 courtesy of Claire Brothers Funeral Home

Above: Two dollar bill signed by Charles D. Guntner

from Gary and Kathy Root:

Charles, who had attended several of our B Company 1/22nd Reunions was a very special man with lots of war stories to tell.
He loved to share his military experiences with you. I only wish that I had recorded some of them.
Sgt Gunter enjoyed signing new two dollar bills and giving them to Veterans.

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