Major William Stephen Gunter: Age 67

Major William Stephen Gunter served 23 years and six months in the U.S. military including three years and nine months in the Naval Reserve and 19 years and six months in the Air Force. His Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) was Corpman Medic, and his Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) included RN, Counter Intelligence Agent and Trainer, Foreign Military Specialist, Contingency War Planner, operations Manager, Political Military Affairs Strategist, Academic Program Manager and Special Investigator.

Major Gunter’s medals, decorations, badges, citations and campaign ribbons included: Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Joint Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clusters, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal with one service star, National Defense Service Medal with one service star, Southwest Asia Service Medal with two service stars, Iraq Campaign Medal with one service star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short, Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon, Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border, Air Force Longevity Service with four oak leaf clusters, Navy Pistol Shot Medal, Navy Expert Rifle Medal, Air Force Training Ribbon, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait Liberaton Medal, Government of Kuwait.

Major Gunter was born April 12, 1957 to his parents, Horace and Doris Gunter, at Syracuse, NY where then he was reared and graduated from Most Holy Rosary High School in 1975. He then graduated from Lemoyne College with a BS Degree in Multiple Science, attended and received a certificate from the two year Onondaga Community College. In 1989, Major Gunter began service in the Naval Reserve while he was at Syracuse University, and during one summer, he served in East Algiers at New Orleans on a replica of a ship. During 1990-1992, he attended and graduated with a BS Degree in Nursing from Syracuse University in December 1992, studied and passed his New York Nursing Boards receiving his nursing license.

During another summer while in college, he was called to active duty for five months during Desert Storm traveling to Kuwait with the 4th Marine Division, 2nd Battalion. Next, he worked at a VA Hospital in New York City. He did a lateral transfer to active duty in the U.S. Air Force in February 1993 and was promoted from Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class (E5) to 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. His first assignment was to Wilford Hall, the hospital at Lackland Air Force Base, TX, beginning work as a nurse first with medical surgery, transplant medicine and then with flight medicine becoming a flight nurse. He next worked for five months during Operation Sea Signal when Cuban. Haitian and Jamaican migrants were attempting to reach the U.S.A. and were taken to the U.S. Naval Hospital at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Then he returned to Wilford Hall Hospital at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX. Next, he was recruited to serve with Air Force Office Special Investigations beginning with training at Andrew Air Force Base, MD, for three months followed by service at Pope Air Force Base, N.C. for one year. Then he was deployed to Saudia Arabia as a counterintelligence agent for one year. He returned to Lackland A.F.B. working with an anti-terrorism team for two years. Major Gunter was transferred to Maxwell A.F.B., AL, to teach at the Officers Training School for four years. Remaining at Maxwell A.F.B, he transferred to serve at R.O.T.C. Headquarters for five years. He then spent two weeks at Wright Patterson A.F.B., OH, for a training course, Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management (D.I.S.A.M.), on how to use paperwork seeking money and weapons with the U.S. State Department. He was then deployed to Iraq for assignment during Enduring Freedom where he worked as a training and rebuilding facilitator. In 2013, he returned to serve three months at Maxwell A.FB. This was followed by 12 months of work with the Defense Intelligence Agency (D.I.A.) at Crystal City, VA, with WikiLeaks, a nonprofit media organization and publisher of leaked documents. Then he served for 13 months at the Office of Defense Corporation at the U.S. Embassy at Lebanon assisting Lebanese armed forces in how to obtain weapons and equipment and arranging trainers. Major Gunter retired at Maxwell A.F.B. April 1, 2013. He then returned to Lebanon working as a civilian contractor for almost two years until February 2015.

After his military retirement, Major Gunter returned to living in Deatsville, AL, where he owns and operates WSG ARMS Inc. where he designs and repairs weapon systems. In 2014, he was elected as a Councilman for the city of Deatsville, AL.

Major Gunter and his wife, Shawna, have been married 32 years. They belong to St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Montgomery, AL, where he serves as a member of the Building Committee and as an usher. He has held membership in the Disabled Veterans Association, the American Legion in Fulton, NY, the Masonic Lodge, the Shriners and the Royal Order of 88ucontrol for scale model tanks, airplanes and submarines.

Major Gunter’s conclusions about what serving in the U.S. Military means to him are: “It meant giving back to my country that gave me ample opportunities to grow as a person and as a citizen. Five members of my father’s family and three members of my mother’s family served in the U.S. Military. Joining the military meant that I was willing to lay down my life for the protection of others here that can’t defend themselves.” He would like people to remember him as a man with a smile and as a person who was willing to never say “No” and was always willing to help.