Kenneth Lester Guisewite

Surrounded by his loving family, Kenneth Lester Guisewite, of Rebersburg, passed away at his home on June 7, 2024, after a lengthy battle with lung disease caused by Agent Orange.  He was 77.  Born May 28, 1947, in Bellefonte, Ken was a son of the late Lester M. and Anna J. “Garrett” Guisewite. 

In December 1965, Ken and four of his friends decided they were going to enlist in the U.S. Army.  The very next day they did exactly that.

Ken began his basic training with Company B, 6th Battalion, 2nd Brigade at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina.  After basic training in March of 1966, Ken went for training as a vehicle mechanic at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. 

In March of 1966, another lifetime event occurred for Ken, he married Donna Strickler at St. James United Methodist Church in Coburn. 

After finishing his training at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Ken was inducted into the United States Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia where he successfully completed the Airborne Course and received his diploma on July 22, 1966.

In August 1966, Ken was sent to HHC, 2nd B, 509th infantry in Mainz, Germany.  While in Germany, Ken made many airborne jumps.  Some jumps were made at night and some during the day.  Jumps were made in all types of weather and made in the sugar beet and hay fields as well as from C119 and C130 planes and a Helicopter 34 and a 141 jet.  Ken attained the rank of SGT E-5 while in Germany.

In October 1966, Ken was made a Heavy Truck Driver.  When Lt. Six came to Germany, he was looking for a driver for himself.  He wanted one from Pennsylvania because they knew how to drive in ice and snow.  Ken was chosen for the position.  He drove for Lt.  Six, (who later became a Major) until Maj. Six left for Korea.  Later in October 1966, Ken became a vehicle commander and in September 1968, he was also made a track commander by Maj. Six.

From time to time, the 509th would go to Baumholder, Germany to do infantry training.  They would be gone anywhere from 30-45 days at a time. 

May 16-30, 1967, the 509th Infantry participated in the “Pathfinder Express”.  This was a combined U.S./Spanish Field Exercise held in Spain.  Troops from the 509th and Spanish troops jumped into Spain and completed an exercise with “Aggressor”.  Equipment and supplies were also dropped out of the planes.  The exercise took place near the Zaragoza Air Base, Spain.  On October 7, 1967, Ken also made a jump into Turkey on a field exercise.

After spending three years in Germany, on March 14, 1969, Ken went to Ft. Eustis, VA, to learn Airframe Repair.  After finishing his schooling, it was off to Ft. Sill, OK, where he worked on CH47 and 54 helicopters.  It was during this time that Ken’s rank changed from SGT E-5 to Specialist 5.

On January 25, 1971, Ken was transferred to Corpus Christi Naval Base where the Army had personnel working on repairs to helicopters.  While at Corpus Christi, Ken was sent to Vietnam to repair helicopters, boats and mike boats that were shot up.  These repairs were done either on location where they were shot down or if possible, transferred to the USNS Corpus Christi Bay, which did the necessary repairs.  By doing this, time was saved, and the equipment was able to get back in the fight, instead of sending them back to the United States for repair. 

In August 1972, Ken returned to Corpus Christi, TX, where he was honorably discharged.  In May 1974, Ken became a member of the 318th Light Equipment Company until May 1975, when he received his 3rd honorable discharge. 

During Ken’s time in the U.S. Army, he earned many awards which included Paratrooper Wings (for when he was in an elite group on standby ready for deployment anywhere), Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, 1st and 2nd awards, Expert Rifle award, Sharpshooter M14, Good Conduct Medal, 1st and 2nd awards and many letter of Commendations. 

Upon Ken’s return home he was employed at Piper Aircraft, the Penns Valley High School and finally the former R.E. Breon and Sons Oil Company in Rebersburg where he retired from.  Ken held many lifetime memberships which included, Smith Sweetwood VFW Post 9575 where he served as Jr. Vice Commander, Sr. Vice Commander and Commander, the Disabled Veterans, the Vietnam Disabled Veterans, the American Legion Keystone Post #444, the Centre County Fire Police Association where he served as the Vice President and President during that time and the Miles Township Fire Company for 60 years. He started out on the Forest Fire Crew run by Doug McNeal, also he was with the Fire Police, serving as Captain for many years. He also served as the Miles Township Constable in 1985 and 1991.

In addition to his wife Donna, Ken is survived by one son, Daniel Miles Guisewite of Rebersburg and one daughter, Kendra Louise Hicks (Ed) of Houtzdale; three grandchildren, Kevin Hicks (Carly) of Ramey, Melinda Hicks of Winburne and Daniel Miles Guisewite, Jr or Rebersburg; one great grandson, Everett Hicks of Ramey; one sister, Marline Kennedy (William) of Chincoteague, VA and numerous nieces and nephews.  Ken was preceded in death by two brothers, Larry Louis Guisewite and Rodney Eugene Guisewite and three sisters, Floretta Grace Miller, Veta Pauline Guisewite and Anna June Guisewite.

A Celebration of Ken’s life will be held on Saturday, June 22, 2024, at the Brush Valley New Life Church at 123 Madisonburg Pike in Madisonburg where military honors will be accorded.  In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Ken may be given to Smith-Sweetwood VFW Post 9575, 2903 Penns Valley Pike, Centre Hall, PA 16828 or to Miles Township Fire Company, POB 155, Rebersburg PA 16872.

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