More detail on this person: Col Vincent Joseph Guinee, Jr Retired Col. Vincent Joseph Guinee Jr., U.S. Marine Corps, 78, Cresson, died Wednesday at Memorial Medical Center, Johnstown, after a brief illness. He was born in New York City, son of Vincent Joseph and Mary Veronica Guinee. Surviving are his wife, Dorothy; five children: Vincent III and wife, Angela, of Warsaw, Poland, Patricia Henriques and husband, Capt. Errol D., U.S. Navy, of Tampa, Fla., Theresa Hinton and husband, Timothy, of Dickson City, Patrick and wife, Jennifer, of Pittsburgh and Megan of Boiling Springs, S.C.; and 14 grandchildren: Vincent, Rachel and Jessica Guinee, Matthew and Joseph Henriques, Sara, John, Emily and Daniel Hinton and Caitlin, Bridget, Patrick, Brendan and Liam Guinee. Vince graduated from Power Memorial High School in Manhattan in 1949. He continued his studies at St. Francis University, Loretto, where he graduated in 1954 with a Bachelor of Science. He also earned a master's degree in education from the University of Virginia in 1977. During his tenure at St. Francis, Vince joined the U.S. Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Course, and upon graduation, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marines. After completion of The Basic School at Quantico, Va., in 1955, Col. Guinee attended the Naval Aviation School in Pensacola, Fla., and earned his Naval Aviator wings. He met his future spouse, Dorothy of Tallassee, Ala., while stationed in Japan. After their marriage in 1961, the couple was transferred to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Col. Guinee completed two tours in Vietnam, earning two Silver Stars, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Legion of Merit, the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V," the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and 27 Air Medals, among many other decorations. Col. Guinee also had the high distinction of having been named the U.S. Marine Corps' Aviator of the Year in 1967, for which he received the Alfred A. Cunningham Award. Col. Guinee commanded several U.S. Marine Corps helicopter squadrons and attended the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico, Va., followed by assignments to the Pentagon, the Naval War College and Force Planner for the U.S. delegation to NATO in Brussels, Belgium. He returned to the U.S. in 1981 as director of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, a post he retained until his retirement in the summer of 1982. After retirement from the Marine Corps, Col. Guinee accepted the position of alumni director at St. Francis University. Vince's patriotism and steadfastness were unmatched, and he imparted great faith and love of family to his children, grandchildren and friends. He enjoyed reading, particularly about history and politics. He will be missed tremendously. Friends will be received from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, at Charles M. Kennedy Funeral Home, Cresson, where the rosary will be said by the Legion of Mary at 3 p.m. followed by a vigil for the deceased. A funeral Mass will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, 2009, at St. Aloysious Church, Cresson. Interment will take place on Tuesday at Quantico National Cemetery, Triangle, Va.
Burial information: Quantico National Cemetery, Quantico, VA
This information was last updated 12/08/2017
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Date posted on this site: 10/23/2024
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