Greensburg native served in Vietnam
(GREENSBURG, Ind.) – This week we’re honoring Vietnam Veteran Dale Guack of Greensburg.
Dale was born to Richard and Ruth Gauck in 1949 and was the sixth of ten children in his family.
He attended the two-room schoolhouse at St. Maurice Elementary and was the last class to graduate from Clarksburg High School in 1967.
He was working for Stewart Seeds and was involved in their cattle operation.
Dale had registered for the draft the year prior and said that if the draft board was taking 20 year-olds, he wanted to do his service and get back home to continue his job with the livestock.
He drove to the “draft office” in Greensburg and met Mildred DeMoss. He explained that he wanted to volunteer, and she helped him with the process.
Ten days later, he enlisted in the Army. It wouldn’t be long before he found himself in Vietnam.
After a helicopter ride to Pleiku, he was given the “81 ML.Mortor” assignment, and moved on to Phan Thiet, in the Lee Hong Phong Forest.
On April 1, 1970, he and other soldiers were infiltrated by the Viet Cong and that resulted in a Purple Heart, and a Bronze Star, with “V” devise.
On May 22, while out on a perimeter assignment, incoming mortars and RPGs caused numerous injuries in his unit. The injured were air-lifted out and only one from the unit returned from that episode.
His second Bronze Star with “V” devise was a result of that firefight.
After his service in Vietnam, Gauck returned back to the states and worked for The American Herdsman Institute in Missouri, Summit Crest Farms of Ohio, and Dan Wilson Farms of Decatur County, Indiana.
In 1978, he began his career with Hunter Robbins Farms as a Farm Manager and is still a part-time employee of ROBUB FARMS, LLC.
Dale is still a very active member of the community and is a current coach for the Greensburg Junior High Cross-Country team, and the Track and Field team
He works with long-distance runners and has plenty to teach.
He started running in 2001. He is a former marathon runner and trained for a 50-mile trail run in Kentucky. He participates in as many 5Ks as possible during the year.
Dale attends St. Mary’s Church and enjoys the fellowship of his “Sunday Morning Bible Study Group”.
Thank you to Dale Gauck, of Greensburg, for your service to our country and community!
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