Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire 31yrs ago today

The invasion of Grenada kicked off.

My on-wing T-28 flight instructor in the Marines, Capt. Pat Giguere, was awarded the Silver Star and promoted to major, (posthumously,) for his gallant action in Grenada.

As luck would have it, and unknown to us, our Squadron, HMM-264, had been selected to lead the action in Grenada from the USS Inchon. We had spent several months flying our asses off, night vision goggles, and extensive work ups with the grunts across the river in Le Jeune, but had no idea what was the mission. They even allowed us to bring our personal weapons with us on the deployment (Most of us brought our 1911 .45ACPs to replace the gov issue SW .38 Special revolver that pilots carried at that time.) When the time came to embark, the Mighty Chon blew a boiler and they turned around the Iwo Jima and HMM-261 who had already deployed to the Med for a routine peace time deployment.



Here is the Siver Star award for Captain Pat Giguere:

*GIGUERE, PAT (KIA)
Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star
Medal (Posthumously) to Pat Giguere, Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, for
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as an AH-1T
(TOW) Cobra Attack Helicopter Pilot in Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron
TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE (HMM-261), Twenty-Second Marine Amphibious
Unit conducting combat operations on the Island of Grenada in support of
Operation URGENT FURY, on 25 October 1983. While conducting an armed
reconnaissance mission in support of ground forces, Captain Giguere's
wingman was hit by multiple anti-aircraft artillery projectiles and forced down
behind enemy lines. With full knowledge of their vulnerability as a single
aircraft without a wingman's protective cover and with total disregard for their
own safety, Captain Giguere and his Co-Pilot exposed their aircraft to heavy
anti-aircraft artillery fire while engaging enemy ground forces and preventing
the certain capture of the helpless and gravely wounded crew. Requesting
assistance from a rescue aircraft and organizing the rescue attempt, Captain
Giguere and his Co-Pilot fearlessly continued to engage the anti-aircraft
emplacements that encircled the zone protecting the more vulnerable rescue
aircraft and buying enough time to effect a successful rescue. Purposely
remaining behind until the rescue aircraft could escape the enemy fire,
Captain Giguere sacrificed his life after a gallant struggle so that others might
live. By his extraordinary courage, uncommon valor, and steadfast devotion to
duty in the face of danger, Captain Giguere reflected great credit upon himself
and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States
Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Home Town: Jacksonville, North Carolina

Semper Fi.

God Bless you, Capt. Giguere. Rest in Peace, sir.