Larry J. Gouine

Larry J Gouine was born in November 1941 in Detroit Michigan.  He grew up with 2 sisters and 7 brothers and his parents.  He did not graduate high school but he did attend the same school as Diana Ross and the Supremes. He completed his GED and entered military service by joining the army. 

He met his future wife Dorothy in 1967 while he was visiting his sister Joanne and her husband Carl Keller here in Shawano.  The Kellers owned and operated what was know as The Airport Inn and is now better known as The Pad.  Larry and Dorothy were married on February 24th, 1968.  Twenty days after Larry and Dorothy were married Larry was shipped out to Vietnam.

  In Vietnam Larry served in an artillery unit operating the guns that would shoot down into the valleys.  Larry was also known as a tunnel rat and carried only a flash light, a pistol, and knife as he crawled through the tunnels searching for Vietcong. 

  Larry completed his service in Vietnam in 1969 and arrived back in the States under cover of darkness due to public disapproval shown towards returning soldiers.

  After returning from Vietnam Larry was stationed in Fort Riley Kansas, where he adopted his wife’s son Timothy and then in Augsburg/Nuremberg Germany for three years in which he served as a supply sergeant.  His wife Dorothy and son Timothy joined him.   During his time in Germany he went out on maneuvers and spent time at Dachau guarding it during the Olympics where Mark Spitz won his gold medals. 

  After finishing service in Germany Larry was then stationed at Fort Hood Texas for three years continuing as a supply sergeant.  During his next deployment Larry once again went back to Germany with his wife and son following him.  He was stationed in Bamburg until he returned from Germany in 1978.  Larry completed his military service in the reserves where he finished out a career of 24 years in total.

  Larry was an active member of AMVETS Post 10, The VFW in Bonduel, The VVA and The DAV.  Larry passed away September 5th 2010 at the age of 69 with his family at his side in Green Bay Wisconsin.  He was given a military funeral with many many friends and family in attendance after being cremated.  His remains continue to be held by his family until such time as his beloved joins him in Heaven.