KHR ProjectKHR ProjectBy: Savannah By: Savannah Bagley, Jordan Bagley, Jordan

Stone, & Alyssa Stone, & Alyssa MontejoMontejoPeriod 5

King High King High RemembersRemembers

As you continue through life and

hold memories of your military

service, always know that…

2011

Guenther GriebauGuenther Griebau

Born on June 21, 1937 in Hamburg, Germany

Guenther was born to a ships carpenter and a stay at home mom.

ChildhoodChildhoodThe Griebau Family stayed in The Griebau Family stayed in Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany for 9 Germany for 9

years. After the 2years. After the 2ndnd World War, World War,

his parents got a divorce. his parents got a divorce.

Guenther stayed with his father, and his Guenther stayed with his father, and his sister stayed with his mother. His main sister stayed with his mother. His main source of meat as a child was rabbit meat source of meat as a child was rabbit meat because his family raised rabbits. Griebau because his family raised rabbits. Griebau was growing up in Nazi, Germany during was growing up in Nazi, Germany during WWII. His family’s house was bombed to the WWII. His family’s house was bombed to the ground twice as a child. He spent months ground twice as a child. He spent months living in drainage ditches without electricity living in drainage ditches without electricity or water. Although he went through all or water. Although he went through all these trials, he still fought for America.these trials, he still fought for America.

Coming to AmericaComing to AmericaWhile working as a ships carpenter, his father met While working as a ships carpenter, his father met

a woman in America and always wanted to go a woman in America and always wanted to go back to marry her. Three years after his parents’ back to marry her. Three years after his parents’

divorce, Griebau moved with his father to divorce, Griebau moved with his father to America. He would never see his mother or sister America. He would never see his mother or sister

again. On October 23, 1949, they started their again. On October 23, 1949, they started their journey to the states. They lived in New York for a journey to the states. They lived in New York for a

while, then settled in Chester, California. while, then settled in Chester, California.

“America is the most beautiful country in the world!” says Griebau.

If there was one thing Guenther lived If there was one thing Guenther lived for, it was sports. It was hard for him to for, it was sports. It was hard for him to understand English, but despite that understand English, but despite that nothing else got in his way. He loved nothing else got in his way. He loved playing sports playing sports as he was offered 3 as he was offered 3 baseball and 3 football baseball and 3 football scholarships. Guenther scholarships. Guenther turned these opportu-turned these opportu-nities down for something he wanted nities down for something he wanted more. Disappointing his father, more. Disappointing his father, Guenther Griebau wanted to join the Guenther Griebau wanted to join the U.S. Marine Corps instead.U.S. Marine Corps instead.

Military Service--U.S. Military Service--U.S. Marine CorpsMarine CorpsJune 1956 - June 1982June 1956 - June 1982

Served for 26 years and 13 daysServed for 26 years and 13 days

As a freshman in high school, Guenther knew he wanted to join the Marines. He had his goals and was

driven to achieve them. He joined the Marines because it presented a physical challenge. It was easy for him to

accept the Marine Corps because he grew up in a disciplined country. Guenther felt he was built to be a

Marine. He enlisted in 1956 and prepared for the Vietnam War.

First Days in First Days in MarinesMarinesHe loved the Marines, and he wouldn’t pick any He loved the Marines, and he wouldn’t pick any

other military branch. He went to boot camp in other military branch. He went to boot camp in San Diego, California. His first days were rough, San Diego, California. His first days were rough,

and the Marines’ boot camp was the most and the Marines’ boot camp was the most intense. “Those first days were hell, absolute intense. “Those first days were hell, absolute

hell,” states Griebau. Guenther first started as hell,” states Griebau. Guenther first started as an infantryman. Once they saw how fast he an infantryman. Once they saw how fast he could type, he was changed to be a clerk in could type, he was changed to be a clerk in

administration. This benefited him because it administration. This benefited him because it allowed him to have more travel opportunities. allowed him to have more travel opportunities.

He was first stationed in Camp Pendleton, He was first stationed in Camp Pendleton, California.California.

Time of service: During Time of service: During Vietnam WarVietnam War

The Vietnam War from The Vietnam War from 1945-1954 was a war 1945-1954 was a war

between North and South between North and South Vietnam. The South was Vietnam. The South was

fighting for Anti-fighting for Anti-Communism, and the North Communism, and the North

was fighting for was fighting for Communism. The U.S. Communism. The U.S. supported Southern supported Southern

Vietnam financially to try to Vietnam financially to try to contain the spread of contain the spread of communism. The Tet communism. The Tet

Offensive by the north Offensive by the north turned to U.S. against the turned to U.S. against the

war, and in 1973 they war, and in 1973 they withdrew from Vietnam. In withdrew from Vietnam. In

April of 1975, South April of 1975, South Vietnam surrendered to the Vietnam surrendered to the

north and Vietnam was north and Vietnam was reunited.reunited.

Vietnam War

~American Embassy~~American Embassy~Saigon, VietnamSaigon, Vietnam

This is where Griebau was assigned to for 18 This is where Griebau was assigned to for 18 months in 1969. He was a body guard for months in 1969. He was a body guard for

Ambassador Ellsworth Bunker. The Northern Ambassador Ellsworth Bunker. The Northern Vietnamese wanted to kill the American Vietnamese wanted to kill the American

Ambassador and any American in general. Ambassador and any American in general.

American Embassy American Embassy PromotionPromotion

Later, Griebau was promoted to Gunnery Later, Griebau was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant by the ambassador. It was his duty to Sergeant by the ambassador. It was his duty to protect the ambassador from the Viet Cong who protect the ambassador from the Viet Cong who

frequently attacked the embassy. Each frequently attacked the embassy. Each promotion was a major accomplishment and promotion was a major accomplishment and

honor to Griebau.honor to Griebau.

Gy Sgt. Griebau

Guenther’s Memorable Guenther’s Memorable MomentMoment

at the Embassyat the EmbassyThe embassy killed a man that was working for The embassy killed a man that was working for the Viet Cong. They promised his wife money to the Viet Cong. They promised his wife money to support her and her kids. She was upset and told support her and her kids. She was upset and told the embassy she was going to go there and burn the embassy she was going to go there and burn herself and her children. It was Guenther’s job to herself and her children. It was Guenther’s job to

make sure they were safe and didn’t burn make sure they were safe and didn’t burn themselves. When she arrived, Guenther pulled themselves. When she arrived, Guenther pulled her and her kids into the embassy, but left her her and her kids into the embassy, but left her mother outside the embassy gates because he mother outside the embassy gates because he had no instruction to let her in. The press heard had no instruction to let her in. The press heard about it and soon they were at the embassy. about it and soon they were at the embassy. …

Guenther’s Memorable Guenther’s Memorable MomentMoment

at the Embassy cont.at the Embassy cont.

Guenther went outside to allow the lady’s mother to join them inside the Guenther went outside to allow the lady’s mother to join them inside the embassy. When he opened the gate to let her in, the press rushed in to embassy. When he opened the gate to let her in, the press rushed in to try to get questions and pictures. The situation then became a serious try to get questions and pictures. The situation then became a serious

security issue and Guenther tried to keep the press out. The press got out security issue and Guenther tried to keep the press out. The press got out of control so he had to shut the gate. As he was closing the gate, he of control so he had to shut the gate. As he was closing the gate, he

slammed it on the cameraman’s camera lens. The man was very upset slammed it on the cameraman’s camera lens. The man was very upset because his lens never got replaced, but in the end Guenther was able to because his lens never got replaced, but in the end Guenther was able to

keep the woman and her children safe. Haha poor cameraman!keep the woman and her children safe. Haha poor cameraman!

View on StressView on StressGuenther Griebau was always confident, therefore he Guenther Griebau was always confident, therefore he

never really had stress. “People bring stress upon never really had stress. “People bring stress upon themselves,” says Griebau. He didn’t see much themselves,” says Griebau. He didn’t see much

combat, so he was never really scared or stressed out combat, so he was never really scared or stressed out while in Vietnam.while in Vietnam.

DiscriminationDiscriminationIn Vietnam, Guenther didn’t experience any In Vietnam, Guenther didn’t experience any

discrimination. He felt that not liking discrimination. He felt that not liking someone had nothing to do with their race, someone had nothing to do with their race,

but with who they were as a person. but with who they were as a person. Guenther believed that discrimination was Guenther believed that discrimination was blown out of text. “Everyone has someone blown out of text. “Everyone has someone

they hate, but it’s not because of their color. they hate, but it’s not because of their color. I have a lot of friends and enemies in every I have a lot of friends and enemies in every

race,” says Griebau.race,” says Griebau.

DiscriminationDiscrimination

Places TraveledPlaces TraveledGuenther Griebau has traveled around the world Guenther Griebau has traveled around the world

10 times. Places he’s traveled include Italy, 10 times. Places he’s traveled include Italy, Australia, Japan, Vietnam, and many places in Australia, Japan, Vietnam, and many places in the U.S. He loved that he was able to travel. the U.S. He loved that he was able to travel. This is one of the reasons why he loved the This is one of the reasons why he loved the

military so much. military so much.

EntertainmentEntertainmentOn his down time, Guenther liked to stay active and On his down time, Guenther liked to stay active and

have fun. He played sports and hung out with his have fun. He played sports and hung out with his friends. He also loved to travel. friends. He also loved to travel.

HighlightHighlightGuenther’s highlight was his life in Guenther’s highlight was his life in

general. He felt he was never cheated general. He felt he was never cheated and was very blessed. He had and was very blessed. He had

opportunities in life, and was thankful opportunities in life, and was thankful for what he had. Coming to America was for what he had. Coming to America was

also a highlight of his life. He also a highlight of his life. He appreciates this country so much. appreciates this country so much.

Joining the Marines was a huge highlight Joining the Marines was a huge highlight of his life as well. of his life as well.

HighlightHighlight

His Last Military His Last Military DaysDays Guenther’s last day in the Marines was

very sad for him. He left because he didn’t get along with one of the

sergeants he was working with. “It was a sad day ending something you love

after 26 years,” says Griebau. Guenther was proud of what he has accomplished,

and he wouldn’t have wanted his military days to be any different.

Retired: June 30,

1982

Life After the Life After the MilitaryMilitaryGuenther Griebau retired on a Guenther Griebau retired on a

Friday and had another job by Friday and had another job by that next Monday. He worked that next Monday. He worked for Toyota and owned his own for Toyota and owned his own

traffic school. Now he is traffic school. Now he is involved with Veteran involved with Veteran

organizations, and he belongs organizations, and he belongs to the American Legion. He is to the American Legion. He is now on the board of directors now on the board of directors

for Riverside National for Riverside National Cemetery and works with the Cemetery and works with the

blind. Guenther attends blind. Guenther attends reunions once a year and has reunions once a year and has

many friends from the many friends from the military. Also, he is involved military. Also, he is involved

in community service, and he in community service, and he loves helping people. loves helping people.

Proud to be A Proud to be A MarineMarine

……And this is what he And this is what he showed us. These showed us. These flags mean so much flags mean so much to him.to him.

King High King High RemembersRemembers

““I love this program,” Griebau says. “I will be I love this program,” Griebau says. “I will be here every year that I am still alive.”here every year that I am still alive.”