GUINEE – Col. Vincent Joseph Guinee Jr., USMC (Ret.), Cresson, died Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009, at Memorial Medical Center, Johnstown, after a brief illness. Born Aug. 1, 1931, in New York, N.Y., to Vincent Joseph Guinee and Mary Veronica Guinee. Vince graduated from Power Memorial High School, Manhattan, in 1949. He continued his studies at St. Francis University, Loretto, where he graduated in 1954 with a bachelor of science degree. Mr. Guinee also earned a master’s in education from the University of Virginia in 1977. During his tenure at St. Francis, Vince joined the U.S. Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Course, and upon graduation, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marines. After completion of The Basic School at Quantico, Va., in 1955, Col. Guinee attended Naval Aviation School in Pensacola, Fla., and earned his Naval Aviator wings. He met his future spouse, Dorothy, of Tallassee, Ala., when stationed in Japan. After their marriage in 1961, the couple was transferred to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Col. Guinee completed two tours in Vietnam earning two Silver Stars, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Legion of Merit, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V,” the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and 27 Air Medals, among many other decorations. Col. Guinee also has the high distinction of having been named the U.S. Marine Corps’ Aviator of the Year in 1967 for which he received the Alfred A. Cunningham Award. Col. Guinee commanded several USMC helicopter squadrons and attended the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico, Va., followed by assignments to the Pentagon, the Naval War College, and Force Planner for the U.S. delegation to NATO in Brussels, Belgium. He returned to the United States in 1981 as director of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, a post he retained until his retirement in the summer of 1982. After retirement from the Marine Corps, Col. Guinee accepted the position of alumni director at St. Francis University. Vince’s patriotism and steadfastness were unmatched and he imparted both great faith and love of family to his children, grandchildren and friends. He enjoyed reading, particularly about history and politics. He will be missed tremendously. Surviving are his wife, Dorothy; and children, Vincent III, and wife, Angela, Warsaw, Poland; Patricia, and husband, Capt. Errol D. Henriques, USN, Tampa, Fla.; Theresa, and husband, Timothy Hinton, Dickson City, Pa.; Patrick, and wife, Jennifer, Pittsburgh; and Megan, Boiling Springs, S.C.; and grandchildren, Vincent, Rachel and Jessica Guinee; Matthew and Joseph Henriques; Sara, John, Emily and Daniel Hinton; and Caitlin, Bridget, Patrick, Brendan and Liam Guinee. Friends will be received from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Charles M. Kennedy Funeral Home, Cresson, where rosary will be said by the Legion of Mary at 3 p.m., followed by a vigil for the deceased. Funeral Mass will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at St. Aloysius Church, Cresson. Internment will take place on Tuesday at Quantico National Cemetery, Triangle, Va.
