Daniel "Gunny" Whyte
Died: 10/27/2018
Description:
He was a familiar figure in one East Texas city for decades, a patriot and retired marine who never missed an opportunity to help other veterans and show his patriotism.
His name was Danny Whyte, but he was simply known to people in Gregg county as ‘the gunny.’
After a hard fought battle, the “Gunny” was called to his heavenly home on October 27, 2018, with loved ones by his side.
Daniel (Danny) “Gunny” J. Whyte Jr., was born in 1937 in the South Bronx, New York City. His parents, Daniel and Kathleen Whyte were both immigrants from Ireland but met and married in New York. His father was a retired police officer. He joined the Marine Corps in 1954 and was sent to Parris Island, South Carolina. He served in the 3rd Battalion, 34d Marines at Suez Canal in 1956, was then sent to Okinawa, Cuba and Guantonamo Bay, and then California where he served as a drone instructor from 1963 to 1965. In 1967, “Gunny” was deployed to Vietnam and was assigned to Delta Company 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, but was severely injured. After six and a half months of recovery, he was trained at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas as a dog handler and served a second tour in Vietnam. In 1971, while stationed in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, he became paralyzed and had surgery at Tripler Army Medical Centre. He returned to Camp Pendleton, California and retired from the Marine Corps as a recruiter in East Texas in 1976. Danny “Gunny” married Nancy Jo Quinn in 1984 and together they had a blended family of two sons and four daughters.
Danny “Gunny” remained a Marine and true Patriot throughout his life. Most would say he was an unsung hero. For he always there for his “band of brothers”, his friends and family. Building a strong support system for Vietnam Veterans was something near and dear to his heart and remained so until his last day on this earth. Danny and his wife Nancy began opening their home to Vietnam Veterans many years ago, offering unconditional love, food, clothing, transportation, constant encouragement and whatever else was needed. Not only were they “there” for the Veterans but their spouses and other family members.
The “Gunny” made his mark in and around the East Texas Area but also in the hearts and minds of many of his fellow soldiers (“Brothers”) as he would receive many handwritten letters and calls of gratitude over the years for him saving their lives both physically, mentally and emotionally. He was truly a Marine’s Marine and and one of the most selfless men you will ever meet.
Danny was a dedicated and devout Catholic and attended St. Anthony’s Church, in Longview. He served as an usher for twenty years and was known as “a very kind friend to everyone”… “ a great man”. He loved his God and his Church and was a prayer soldier for so very many!
The news of his passing was hard for fellow veterans.
“I could hardly believe it, it left an empty spot in me when I heard it. Gunny was the kind who could transcend all lines of people,” said retired navy and Vietnam veteran Marvin Gibson.
"He was one of a kind individual that nobody can not know who he is when he's present," said VVA chapter 987 commander and fellow Vietnam veteran Rick Homer.
He was a tough as boot leather drill instructor, two tours in Vietnam, was wounded, decorated numerous times. But his service didn't end when he retired from the marines.
"I would call him at a moments notice, when I could find anyone else, to fold a flag, and he'd say yes ill be there in a minute. lets go," says VFW 1183 post commander and air force veteran John Ashcraft.
“Gunny had gotten a letter from one of the men in his platoon 30 to 40 years ago. He thanked Gunny for saving his life in Vietnam,” Gibson says.
He drove veterans to hospitals, visited them at home, any veteran in need. Anytime. Anywhere.
“When I was sick before my transplant, Gunny was at my house five days a week. Anything that he could do to help, and that’s the Gunny I remember,” Homer says.
He also took those in need into his home, friends say.
"Gunny would take veterans in his home. Homeless people. Give them food give them shelter, help them get employed, helped them get back on their feet. He was a man that would reach into your heart," says Gibson.
In character, he concealed his sickness from many, not wanting to draw attention to it.
For his friends it's a painful goodbye.
"I'd wish that Gunny would have following seas and the wind to his back as he travels on. I loved Gunny," Gibson says.
A funeral service/Mass were held for Daniel “Gunny” J. Whyte, 80, of Longview, Texas, on Thursday, November 1, 2018 at 1:30 PM, with Rosary Service at 1:00 prior to Mass at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Longview. Burial followed at Lakeview Memorial Gardens. Visitation was on Wednesday, October 31st from 6-8 at Rader Funeral Home of Longview.
He was 80 years old.
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