In Memory

Gary McCue

 
McCUE, Gary F USMC1.jpgGary Francis McCue
Marine Corps Lance Corporal

Born: August 22, 1945
Died: May 8, 1967

This photo of Gary Francis McCue was taken in Vietnam April 22, 1967 by Minneapolis Tribute photographer Earl Seubert. It became part of a series titled "9,000 Miles from Home," featuring stories and photos of Minnesotans serving in Vietnam. The section featuring Gary was in the morning paper on May 10, 1967. It was so exciting all day, seeing his picture and reading about him. That afternoon we were notified of his death.

Gary grew up on a farm near Belle Plaine, Minnesota. He was a member of 4-H, FFA, lettered in football and graduated from Belle Plaine High School in 1963.
A son of John and Mary. A brother to Shelly, Pat, Mike, Jan and Jean. Gary continues to be a part of our lives, we remember him fondly, think of him often, miss him dearly, and so wish his nieces and nephews could have known him. Each Memorial Day we honor him by attending programs at the Minnesota Vietnam Veterans Memorial and at the Bloomington VFW parade, where his Mom participates as a Gold Star Mother.
Gary relocated with his family from Belle Plaine, Minnesota in 1963. He attended Mankato State College for two years and joined the Marine Corps in 1965. He was killed in Vietnam on May 8, 1967, exactly eight months after the day he left home for the last time.
Young at heart, Gary had a great sense of humor, a wonderful smile and a friendly approach towards all.
Cute. (Of course as his sisters we're a little prejudiced).
Chevrolet. His black 1957 convertible was a source of great pride.
You would have liked knowing him; a great son, brother and friend. Gary was an all-around guy. After his death his commanding officer wrote, "Gary's enthusiasm, humor and good spirits will be missed by all of us. Twenty-eight years later we continue to miss his "ENTHUSIASM, HUMOR AND GOOD SPIRITS."
Every letter home from Vietnam tried to reassure us. He wrote often and we have compiled his letters into a book. In one of our favorite letters he requested cookies---#1 Chocolate Chip, #2 Raisin Oatmeal, #3 Any other kind.
His last letter home was written six days before his death. Because he was out of paper, he wrote on a piece of cardboard from a C-ration carton. It arrived the day after we were notified of his death.
We will close this memory to Gary as he closed his letters, from Vietnam, to us... LOVE & KISSES, GARY

The family of Gary McCue

From "The Faces Behind the Names," by Don Ward

Semper Fidelis, Marine!

 

 

GARY FRANCIS MCCUE
is honored on Panel 19E, Row 63 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
 

Full Name: GARY FRANCIS MCCUE
Wall Name: GARY F MCCUE
Date of Birth: 8/22/1945
Date of Casualty: 5/8/1967
Home of Record: BLOOMINGTON
County of Record: HENNEPIN COUNTY
State: MN
Branch of Service: MARINE CORPS
Rank: LCPL
Casualty Country: SOUTH VIETNAM
Casualty Province: QUANG TRI

 

 


 
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02/06/13 05:20 PM #1    

Roger Anderson

In the Spring of 1967, I was student teaching in Waseca, Minnesota  In the afternoon, while I was listening to the radio in the car, I heard the news of the death of my high school buddy, Gary McCue, who was a Marine in Vietnam.

He had a wonderful sense of humor and a zest for life.  I had no car when we worked for the Jolly Green Giant, so he’d pick me up every morning and bring me back every evening after our 12-hour shift at the pea viner...  His death still moves me forty years later.

Several years ago, my family and I took a trip east.  One of our stops was Washington D.C., and a visit to the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Wall.  It was a very moving experience, and I looked up Gary’s name...

 

Gary F. McCue

I held back tears when I went to the Wall...
The Wall so large, the names so small.
 
I held back tears for one I knew--
His name was Gary F. McCue.
 
All through grade and high school, life so fresh and new,
My buddy was Gary F. McCue.
 
In Blakeley, Minnesota, our friendship grew,
Me and Gary F. McCue.
 
4-H Club, Scott County Fair, too,
Me and Gary F. McCue.
 
At the Green Giant pea viner, we worked the summer through,
Me and Gary F. McCue.
 
84 hour weeks, as the pea stack grew*,
Working and joking with Gary F. McCue.
 
Graduated at Belle Plaine in '63, the whole world in our view,
Me and my buddy, Gary F. McCue.
 
I went to Mankato State College, and he did too,
Me and Gary F. McCue.
 
He joined the Marines, among the "chosen few";
‘67 saw the death of Gary F. McCue
 
I think the world is a darker hue,
Without Gary F. McCue.

So many names, they're all gone too,
Just like Gary F. McCue.
 
I held back tears when I went to the Wall,
The Wall so large, the names so small.
 
* When Gary and I worked for Green Giant at the pea viner, we worked 12 hour days, 7 A.M-7 P.M, 7 days a week...only a big rain that kept the trucks out of the field would cause work to be canceled or delayed.

All of the pea vines, after the peas were removed in big drums with beaters, went up a conveyor belt to a very large stack of pea vines. This grew bigger and bigger, and there was a tractor at the top of the stack to spread the vines in a nice flat stack as it grew higher.

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