OUR HERO
Earl Lee Tunmire was born on 04 Sept. 1933 to William David Tunmire and Nannie Lee Manor Tunmire. He was the 3rd child of 5 and the 2nd son of 4.
He married Wanda Janell Smith in October 1951.
Four sons were born to this union, Earl Lee Tunmire Jr.,Barry Ray and Larry Ray Tunmire (twins) and Darren Dewayne "Weasel" Tunmire.
He joined the United States Marine Corps on 12 June 1951. He completed boot camp on 06 Nov. 1951 in "D CO", 1st BN 1st Inf. TR. Reg. TCI, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
He was in squardron HMM 361 however; at the time of the crash he was with HMM 262.
He served In Korea and Vietnam.
He was KIA on 26 Oct. 1964 while participating in Operation Steel Pike I. Operation Steel Pike I was the largest peacetime amphibious exercise since WWII. It was being conducted by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marines on the coast of Spain.
Dad was a crew chief on 1 of 2 UH-34 helicopters that collided in mid air, app. 800 feet in the air. His helicopter exploded when it crashed.
Eight other Marines were also killed due to this terrible accident.
They were:
Cpl. Herbert Miller
Cpl. David Dewvngerdt
Cpl. Thomas McManus
Pfc. Walter Campbell
Pfc. Harry Hines
Pfc. George Spence
Pvt. Richard Pannozzo
Pvt. Charles Porter
At the time of the accident he was survived by his wife of 13 years, Wanda, 3 sons; Earl Jr., Larry & Darren, parents : William and Nannie Tunmire, In-laws Hubert and Neta Smith, Brothers; David and wife Betty Tunmire, Arthur Tunmire, & James Tunmire and one sister, Billie Joyce (Tunmire) Parks. Brother-in-law and sister-in-law Billy and Billie Humphus.
He still lives through the lives of his wife, 2 sons, Earl Jr. and wife Pat & Larry and wife Suzanne, 5 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, 2 great step grandchildren and two great-great step grandchildren.
Darren, his youngest son, passed away on 10 June 2015 at the age of 55 years, 2 months, and 10 days.
He was preceded in death by one son, Barry Ray Tunmire.
Words can not describe how much he has been missed and how much he is still loved.
May One and All "Rest in Peace".
Earl Lee Tunmire was born on 04 Sept. 1933 to William David Tunmire and Nannie Lee Manor Tunmire. He was the 3rd child of 5 and the 2nd son of 4.
He married Wanda Janell Smith in October 1951.
Four sons were born to this union, Earl Lee Tunmire Jr.,Barry Ray and Larry Ray Tunmire (twins) and Darren Dewayne "Weasel" Tunmire.
He joined the United States Marine Corps on 12 June 1951. He completed boot camp on 06 Nov. 1951 in "D CO", 1st BN 1st Inf. TR. Reg. TCI, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
He was in squardron HMM 361 however; at the time of the crash he was with HMM 262.
He served In Korea and Vietnam.
He was KIA on 26 Oct. 1964 while participating in Operation Steel Pike I. Operation Steel Pike I was the largest peacetime amphibious exercise since WWII. It was being conducted by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marines on the coast of Spain.
Dad was a crew chief on 1 of 2 UH-34 helicopters that collided in mid air, app. 800 feet in the air. His helicopter exploded when it crashed.
Eight other Marines were also killed due to this terrible accident.
They were:
Cpl. Herbert Miller
Cpl. David Dewvngerdt
Cpl. Thomas McManus
Pfc. Walter Campbell
Pfc. Harry Hines
Pfc. George Spence
Pvt. Richard Pannozzo
Pvt. Charles Porter
At the time of the accident he was survived by his wife of 13 years, Wanda, 3 sons; Earl Jr., Larry & Darren, parents : William and Nannie Tunmire, In-laws Hubert and Neta Smith, Brothers; David and wife Betty Tunmire, Arthur Tunmire, & James Tunmire and one sister, Billie Joyce (Tunmire) Parks. Brother-in-law and sister-in-law Billy and Billie Humphus.
He still lives through the lives of his wife, 2 sons, Earl Jr. and wife Pat & Larry and wife Suzanne, 5 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, 2 great step grandchildren and two great-great step grandchildren.
Darren, his youngest son, passed away on 10 June 2015 at the age of 55 years, 2 months, and 10 days.
He was preceded in death by one son, Barry Ray Tunmire.
Words can not describe how much he has been missed and how much he is still loved.
May One and All "Rest in Peace".
OUR HERO
Earl Lee Tunmire was born on 04 Sept. 1933 to William David Tunmire and Nannie Lee Manor Tunmire. He was the 3rd child of 5 and the 2nd son of 4.
He married Wanda Janell Smith in October 1951.
Four sons were born to this union, Earl Lee Tunmire Jr.,Barry Ray and Larry Ray Tunmire (twins) and Darren Dewayne "Weasel" Tunmire.
He joined the United States Marine Corps on 12 June 1951. He completed boot camp on 06 Nov. 1951 in "D CO", 1st BN 1st Inf. TR. Reg. TCI, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
He was in squardron HMM 361 however; at the time of the crash he was with HMM 262.
He served In Korea and Vietnam.
He was KIA on 26 Oct. 1964 while participating in Operation Steel Pike I. Operation Steel Pike I was the largest peacetime amphibious exercise since WWII. It was being conducted by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marines on the coast of Spain.
Dad was a crew chief on 1 of 2 UH-34 helicopters that collided in mid air, app. 800 feet in the air. His helicopter exploded when it crashed.
Eight other Marines were also killed due to this terrible accident.
They were:
Cpl. Herbert Miller
Cpl. David Dewvngerdt
Cpl. Thomas McManus
Pfc. Walter Campbell
Pfc. Harry Hines
Pfc. George Spence
Pvt. Richard Pannozzo
Pvt. Charles Porter
At the time of the accident he was survived by his wife of 13 years, Wanda, 3 sons; Earl Jr., Larry & Darren, parents : William and Nannie Tunmire, In-laws Hubert and Neta Smith, Brothers; David and wife Betty Tunmire, Arthur Tunmire, & James Tunmire and one sister, Billie Joyce (Tunmire) Parks. Brother-in-law and sister-in-law Billy and Billie Humphus.
He still lives through the lives of his wife, 2 sons, Earl Jr. and wife Pat & Larry and wife Suzanne, 5 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, 2 great step grandchildren and two great-great step grandchildren.
Darren, his youngest son, passed away on 10 June 2015 at the age of 55 years, 2 months, and 10 days.
He was preceded in death by one son, Barry Ray Tunmire.
Words can not describe how much he has been missed and how much he is still loved.
May One and All "Rest in Peace".
Earl Lee Tunmire was born on 04 Sept. 1933 to William David Tunmire and Nannie Lee Manor Tunmire. He was the 3rd child of 5 and the 2nd son of 4.
He married Wanda Janell Smith in October 1951.
Four sons were born to this union, Earl Lee Tunmire Jr.,Barry Ray and Larry Ray Tunmire (twins) and Darren Dewayne "Weasel" Tunmire.
He joined the United States Marine Corps on 12 June 1951. He completed boot camp on 06 Nov. 1951 in "D CO", 1st BN 1st Inf. TR. Reg. TCI, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
He was in squardron HMM 361 however; at the time of the crash he was with HMM 262.
He served In Korea and Vietnam.
He was KIA on 26 Oct. 1964 while participating in Operation Steel Pike I. Operation Steel Pike I was the largest peacetime amphibious exercise since WWII. It was being conducted by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marines on the coast of Spain.
Dad was a crew chief on 1 of 2 UH-34 helicopters that collided in mid air, app. 800 feet in the air. His helicopter exploded when it crashed.
Eight other Marines were also killed due to this terrible accident.
They were:
Cpl. Herbert Miller
Cpl. David Dewvngerdt
Cpl. Thomas McManus
Pfc. Walter Campbell
Pfc. Harry Hines
Pfc. George Spence
Pvt. Richard Pannozzo
Pvt. Charles Porter
At the time of the accident he was survived by his wife of 13 years, Wanda, 3 sons; Earl Jr., Larry & Darren, parents : William and Nannie Tunmire, In-laws Hubert and Neta Smith, Brothers; David and wife Betty Tunmire, Arthur Tunmire, & James Tunmire and one sister, Billie Joyce (Tunmire) Parks. Brother-in-law and sister-in-law Billy and Billie Humphus.
He still lives through the lives of his wife, 2 sons, Earl Jr. and wife Pat & Larry and wife Suzanne, 5 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, 2 great step grandchildren and two great-great step grandchildren.
Darren, his youngest son, passed away on 10 June 2015 at the age of 55 years, 2 months, and 10 days.
He was preceded in death by one son, Barry Ray Tunmire.
Words can not describe how much he has been missed and how much he is still loved.
May One and All "Rest in Peace".
Inscription
Texas
Sgt Marine Air Group 26
Korea AM & 2 GS
Gravesite Details
And a very special Thank You to Dee Winter for transferring Dad's memorial to me. I greatly appreciate it.
