Gourley gave ultimate sacrifice for country
Editor’s Note: This is the first of a two part series on Major Lee Gourley, a native of Villisca. Gourley went Missing in Action in Vietnam in 1968. His body was recovered more than 30 years later. He is a true American hero and patriot.
Major Laurent “Lee” Gourley’s life reads like a blockbuster action movie.
An all American farm boy has dreams of becoming a pilot at a young age. Driven and dedicated, he is valedictorian of his class, gets into the prestigious Air Force Academy, and graduates in the top 20 of his class.
He then proceeds to get a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering in a mere six months, before excelling in flight school training.
Always striving to reach the next level, Gourley is sent to Vietnam as a fighter pilot, but then volunteers with a top-secret squadron to fly fast and low over enemy territory, with the goal of disrupting the transfer of enemy supplies and equipment down the Ho Chi Minh trail.
However, unlike a blockbuster movie, Gourley doesn’t get the girl or the hero’s welcome he so deserved. He is shot down, declared Missing in Action and later, declared dead. It would take more than three decades to get his remains back to U.S. soil, where he was laid to rest next to his parents.
Lee Gourley was a true patriot and an American hero from Villisca.
Lee, also known as “Buster,” was born in September 1944, the second of four children born to Walter and Betty Gourley of rural Villisca. His sister, Elzene, explained four children born within five years not only meant the siblings were close in age, but as a family. They lived in a “shack” near the Union Church near Morton Mills with no running water. There was, however, love, loyalty, “and a system for everything.”
Attending country school at Douglas No. 8 Morton Mills, Lee was the only student in his class. When he was 13, his parents took him to a college fair, which is where he first heard about the Air Force.
“At that time, there was no Air Force Academy but rather classes at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver,” Elzene said. “From that moment on, he was determined to become a pilot.”
The last semester of his eighth grade year, Lee was sent into town to attend school because his parents were concerned he might have issues adjusting his freshman year; going from being the only one in class.
In high school Lee participated in chorus, FFA, track, baseball, National Honor Society, basketball, football, student council, and Hi-Y. He was Class President his junior and senior year and valedictorian of the Class of 1962.
“Whatever the school offered, he did it because it would help him get into the Academy,” Elzene said.
“Lee was focused. He decided to be the valedictorian of his high school Class of 1962, and he did it,” added brother, Fred Gourley.
Despite an impressive application, Lee wasn’t the first, or second appointment into the Academy. The first offer went to a junior at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. However, that young man declined because he didn’t want to have to start over as a freshman. The second person appointed was the first person’s twin brother, who felt the same way. Lee was the third appointment, but made the most of his time at the Academy. He graduated with highest honors with a major in astronautics and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1966.
A music lover, especially of Tom Lehrer and the Ray Coniff Singers, Lee was only paid $100 per month as an Academy cadet. From that, he was able to not only pay his uniform maintenance, but he sent money to brother Fred and Elzene, who were in college. With each monetary gift, there was a note that read, ”You don’t have to mention this to Mom and Dad.”
He even somehow managed to save enough money to buy a car when he was finally allowed to have one as a senior.
“He also wanted to get his Masters Degree before pilot training. For that to happen, he needed to graduate in the top 20 of his Academy class, and the Masters had to be completed within six months. He graduated 19th in his class and got his Masters in aeronautical engineering from Purdue University in 1967,” said Elzene. “I remember he came home for Christmas and wouldn’t eat my aunt’s fudge because the sugar might slow down his brain, and he only had six months for his Masters. He was determined and goal driven. He did what he wanted to do.”
Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) was completed at Williams Air Force Base, then on to F-100 Training (RTU) at Luke Air Force Base, also near Phoenix. He then received orders for Vietnam.
“Mom and Dad thought it was very important to do holidays together as a family. In July 1968, we all got together to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas because Lee was going to be shipped out,” said Elzene. “We got to the farm and Mom had orange Turkey candles out and an orange plastic tablecloth on the table. We went to bed that night and when we got up the next morning, the aluminum Christmas Tree was up and the orange candles had been replaced by red candles. It was the last time we were all together.”
Elzene also said she recalls Lee stopping to see her in Denver on his way to Vietnam. She asked him, almost jokingly, “Why are they sending you?” His reply was, “Sis, what do you think they trained me for?” His last words to her were, “Don’t worry, I’ll never be taken prisoner.”
Part II of this story will appear in the Tuesday, May 26 edition of The Red Oak Express.