Gaylord T. Gunhus

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Gaylord T. Gunhus
Gaylordtgunhus.jpg
Major General Gaylord T. Gunhus
20th Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army
Birth nameGaylord Thomas Gunhus
Nickname(s)G.T. Gunhus
Born(1940-05-22)May 22, 1940
Enderlin, North Dakota, U.S.
DiedMay 27, 2016(2016-05-27) (aged 76)
Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Department of the Army Seal.svg United States Army
Years of service1966–2003
RankUS-O8 insignia.svg Major General
Commands heldU.S. Army Chaplain Corps
Battles/warsVietnam War
War on Terror
AwardsLegion of Merit ribbon.svg Legion of Merit
Bronze Star ribbon.svg Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg Meritorious Service Medal

Chaplain (Major General) Gaylord Thomas "G.T." Gunhus (May 22, 1940 – May 27, 2016) was an American Army officer who, from 1999 to 2003, served as the 20th Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army.[1] He is a 1962 Graduate of Seattle Pacific University where he was named Alumnus of the Year in the spring of 2001. He later graduated from the Lutheran Brethren Seminary in 1967 with a Masters of Divinity degree.[2]

After seminary, Gunhus served two tours in the Vietnam War. He graduated from the Princeton Theological Seminary in 1976 with a Masters in Theology degree. He continued his way up the ranks during the next three decades before being named Chief of Chaplains of the US Army in 1999 by President Bill Clinton.[3] He was the head chaplain for the army based at The Pentagon prior to, during, and after the 9/11 attacks on the Pentagon. He continued in this role until his retirement in 2003. After retirement, he was the military correspondent for Guideposts magazine. General Gunhus died on May 27, 2016 at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona.[4][5][6]

Awards and decorations[]

Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Legion of Merit (with one bronze oak leaf cluster)
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Bronze Star Medal (with one bronze oak leaf cluster)
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Meritorious Service Medal (with three oak leaf clusters)
Air Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Army Commendation Medal (with one oak leaf cluster)
Meritorious Unit Commendation
Bronze star
 National Defense Service Medal (with one bronze service star)
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
 Vietnam Service Medal (with four bronze service stars)
Army Service Ribbon
Award numeral 2.png Overseas Service Ribbon (with award numeral 2)
Vietnam Civil Actions Medal
Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.png Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Vietnam Campaign Medal

References[]

  1. ^ "Gaylord T. Gunhus". Marquis Who's Who on the Web. Retrieved 2016-06-02.
  2. ^ Kelly, Clint (Winter 2001). "An Officer and a Gentleman". SPU Response.
  3. ^ Mcdougall, Connie (Summer 1999). "Helping the Hurting Soldier". SPU Response.
  4. ^ Diaz, Pablo (2016-06-02). "Listen for the Voice of Vocation: Celebrating the faith and inspiration of the late Retired Chaplain (Major General) G.T. Gunhus". Guideposts. Retrieved 2016-06-02.
  5. ^ Gwinn, Jim; Cutshall, Mark (2005). "Chapter 16—The Soldier Who Got His Wish: Gaylord Gunhus". A Life Well Lived. ISBN 0-9774924-0-0.
  6. ^ "Gaylord Gunhus, 1940-2016". Fergus Falls Daily Journal. 2016-07-17. Retrieved 2016-07-26.

Further reading[]

Military offices
Preceded by Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army
1994 – 1999 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army
1999 – 2003 		Succeeded by
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