Commander
Pensacola – CDR. Alexander Carlan Gunn USN Ret., 89, passed away at his home in Pensacola on September 29, 2023. Alex was born in Claremont, New Hampshire, on February 27, 1934, to Carlan and Josephine Gunn. In the early 1941, his mom and dad along with his older sister Alleen moved to the Miami-Dade County Florida area. His younger brother Nathan and younger sister Beverly were added to the family in 1941 and 1944. Alex graduated from Coral Gables Senior High in 1952 and worked as a carpenter’s apprentice.
Alex enlisted in the Navy 1 DEC 52 and went through Basic Training at USNTC San Diego, CA from DEC 52 – MAR 53. He was stationed at NAS Kwajalein as a Constructionman Striker from APR 53 – APR 54 and was promoted to Constructionman (CN). He attended Class”A” Construction Electrician (CE) School Training at Port Hueneme, CA from JUN 54 – SEP 54 where he graduated Second in Class. He was stationed in Korea & Japan with Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) 10 from OCT 54 – MAR 56 as an Electrician where he was promoted to Construction Electrician Third Class (CE-3) in 1955. He was stationed at NAF Naha, Okinawa from APR 56 – NOV 59 as an Electrician, POinC CE Shop, P&E Section. He was promoted to Construction Electrician Second Class (CE-2) in June 1956. He and my mom were married on JAN 18, 1957 (married 66 years). He was promoted to Construction Electrician First Class (CE-1) in June 1957. From DEC 59 -FEB 60, he attended the Class “C” Instructor Training School in San Diego, CA where he Graduated First in Class. From MAR 60 -DEC 63, he was assigned to Instructor Duty at the US Naval Schools, Construction (NAVSCON) Port Hueneme where he taught Class “A” CE , Class “B” CE and Class “C” P&E (CE Portion). He was promoted to Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) 16 SEP 61. From JAN 64 – OCT 64, he was stationed with the US Naval Advisory Group, Chinhae, Korea (Public Works). Alex was selected for Limited Duty Officer (LDO) 1 OCT 64 with the rank of Ensign (ENS). From MAR 65 – DEC 66, he was a part of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (MCB) 10 (Seabee Team 1007). On 1 APR 65, he was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG). In APR 65, the Men of Ten became the “Pacific Alert” battalion on Okinawa. On 29 APR 65, MCB-10 embarked for Viet Nam. He was the “B” CO CDR in Chu Lai, the OinC Seabee Team 1007 in Tay Ninh, and the “C” CO CDR in Danang, where he was the Summary Court Officer. He was stationed at Davisville, RI with the US Navy Seabee 21st Construction Regiment (NCR) Atlantic Fleet from JAN 67 -DEC 68. He was the OinC of Seabee Team Training, organizing training at Davisville and Gulfport. Alex was promoted to Lieutenant (LT) on 1 APR 68, becoming Operations Officer with bilateral duties as the Summary Court Officer, Voting Officer, and Institutional Rep. for a Cub Scout Pack. From JAN 68 – JUL 71, he was stationed at Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFACENGCOM), Washington, D.C., in charge of Seabee readiness. From AUG 71 – JUL 75, he was stationed at Commander Fleet Activities (COMFLEACTS), Yokosuka, Japan, as the Facilities Management Officer with bilateral duties as the Disaster Prep. Officer and Energy Conservation Committee Chairman. Alex was promoted to Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) on 1 JUL 72. From AUG 75 – AUG 77, he was stationed at the Public Works Center (PWC), Pensacola, Florida, as the Senior ACE. As Services Department Head. He was responsible for Engineering, Planning and Estimating, and Material, which included all planning, engineering and supply support for all work performed by the Public Works Center.
From AUG 77 – SEP 78, he was stationed at the Headquarters/United Nations Command/United States Forces Korea/Eighth United States Army (HQ UNC/USFK/EUSA), Seoul, Korea, as the Operations Officer/Joint Staff. From SEP 78 – JUL 81, he was stationed at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, as Facilities Management Officer. Alex was promoted to Commander (CDR) on 1 AUG 79. From AUG 81 – AUG 84, he was stationed Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan, as Facilities Officer. He was given the opportunity to move to Hawaii with the rank of Captain but decided to stay and retire in Pensacola. Alex retired from his 32 years of service in the Navy on 1 JAN 85.
During his 32 years of service in the Navy, Alex was awarded the following: Bronze Star Medal w/Combat “V”, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Expert Pistol, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation (MCB-10), Meritorious Unit Commendation, Good Conduct w/3 Bronze Stars, National Defense Service Medal w/1 Bronze Star, Vietnam Service Medal w/Marine Corps and 3 Bronze Star Devices, Vietnam Chung Mi Medal, Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross), Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Civil Action Medal) Color w/Palm, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Meritorious Service Second Degree, and the Vietnamese Armed Forces Honor Medal. In 1984, CDR Gunn was presented with the Legion of Merit Citation.
In 1985 he began his second career. From 85 – 86, he worked for Base Operating Support (BOS) Contractor, DEL-JEN, Inc, at NAS Whiting Field, Milton, Florida, as the Operations Superintendent. Responsible directly to the Project Manager for operational control, through subordinate supervisors, over a large variety of trade and craft occupations, who performed the maintenance of all public works, including buildings, grounds and ground structures; utilities, including electric, water, steam, air, gas, sanitary systems, refrigeration and air conditioning systems, and fire and intrusion alarm systems; and roads, airfield pavements and other paved surfaces. From 86 – 90, he was the Project Manager for DEL-JEN at NAS Whiting Field, responsible for the overall planning, direction, control, and management of the BOS Contract. The DEL-JEN, Inc. Contract was a pilot program by the Navy. The Contract was so successful for both DEL-JEN and the Navy that it became the standard for BOS type Contracts in the Navy. From 90 – 93, he worked for BOS Contractor, Tumpane Services Corporation at NAS Whiting Field, Milton, Florida, as Project Manager, managing and controlling every aspect of the Project. From 1994 – 1996, he worked for DEL-JEN from his home office. From 1997 – 2002, he again worked for DEL-JEN, Inc. as the Project Manager for the BOS Contract at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.
Alex retired for the second time in Oct 2002. In his retirement he enjoyed going to flea markets and antique stores, going places to eat, landscaping and gardening, making our property one of the best looking in the neighborhood. He enjoyed taking care of and relaxing by the koi pond, watching University of Florida Gator and Miami Dolphin football and the Price is Right. One of his prized possessions was a 1996 F150 Eddie Bauer Series Ford truck which he kept in immaculate condition and was fond of taking on excursions.
Cdr. Gunn is survived by his wife of 66 years, Yachiko, and his son Glen. We would like to thank Gentiva Hospice, especially Nurse Renee, for taking such good care of Alex. A celebration of life service will be held at the Pensacola Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home chapel, 7433 Pine Forest Road, Pensacola, Florida at 10 am on Saturday March 23, 2024, followed by his interment.
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