Vernon M. Guymon

Vernon Melvin Guymon (November 1, 1898 – April 5, 1965) was a highly decorated mustang officer and naval aviator of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of brigadier general. A veteran of many conflicts, Guymon served as gunnery sergeant with 6th Marines during World War I, later commissioned and trained as naval aviator he distinguished himself during the combats in Nicaragua and received Navy Cross, the United States military's second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat. During World War II, he served as commanding officer of Marine Glider Group 71 and Marine Aircraft Group 12 in the Pacific theater and retired as brigadier general in 1949.

Early career and World War I Guymon was born on November 2, 1898, in Rexburg, Idaho, and attended high school in Salt Lake City, Utah. Following the United States entry into the World War I in April 1917, Guymon decided to enlist in the Marine Corps as private during the same month and was ordered to the boot camp at Quantico, Virginia. Upon completion of his training, he was attached to the 79th Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment at Quantico and sailed to France in January 1918. He served in the same company with some later marine corps generals: Graves B. Erskine, Charles I. Murray or William A. Worton.

Guymon remained with 79th Company during the assault on Soissons at the end of July 1918 and was wounded again. He was evacuated to the rear for treatment, and remained there until the mid-September 1918. Guymon was meantime promoted to the rank of Gunnery sergeant and participated in the battle of Blanc Mont Ridge in October 1918.

Guymon reentered the Marine Corps service in May 1921 with the permanent rank of second lieutenant and was ordered to the Basic School at Philadelphia Navy Yard for additional officer training, after which he was ordered to Buffalo, New York for duty at the Marine recruiting station. Guymon sailed to Haiti in July 1924 with the 1st Marine Brigade under the command of Brigadier General Ben H. Fuller and participated in the skirmishes with Haitian rebels called "Cacos".

Guymon participated in the combats until May 26, 1929, and received Navy Cross, the United States military's second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat. He also received Nicaraguan Presidential Medal of Merit with Gold star and Diploma.

While commanded this squadron, Guymon received Herbert Schiff memorial trophy from the Secretary of the Navy Charles Francis Adams in February 1933. The Herbert Schiff trophy is awarded to the naval aircraft squadron or unit having to its credit the most flying hours free from accident to personnel or damage to material. Capt. Guymon's squadron flew a total of 1862 hours without mishap. Guymon later led his squadron during Los Angeles National Air Races in July 1933, where they demonstrated to the Services and the nation the daring and skill of Marine aviators.

Guymon then returned to Fighting plane squadron 10-M at San Diego and assumed again command of the squadron in August of that year. His squadron served aboard the aircraft carriers USS Lexington and USS Saratoga during Fleet Problem XVII in Panama Canal Zone in spring 1936 and later returned to San Diego.

World War II

Guymon was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in November 1941 and ordered to the Motorless Flight Institute in Chicago, Illinois for flight training on gliders, which included 30 flying hours. Fifteen hours were airplane tow time while the remaining fifteen were split between winch towing and car towing. The course included cross—country towing, towing to strange airports, and release and landing in simulation of tactical maneuvers.

Following the completion of the training, Guymon assumed command of newly created Marine Glider Group 71 at Parris Island, South Carolina and moved with his command to Marine Corps Air Station Eagle Mountain Lake, Texas in November 1942. He continued in the training of his pilots and received promotion to the rank of colonel on October 1, 1942.

He then served on the staff of commanding general of Aircraft within Fleet Marine Force, Pacific under Major General Francis P. Mulcahy. Guymon remained in this capacity until the end of War and served twice as the representative of this command in connection with postwar operations and employment of the Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii and later in the Marianas area.

Decorations

Here is the ribbon bar of Brigadier General Vernon M. Guymon: