During his year in Alaska, he applied for flight school staus and was accepted for a class date of Januat Pensacola, Florida Naval Air Station. A buoy ender, “The Laurel”, was his home for the next year where he got to revisit his past dream of becoming a Forest Ranger hiking, fishing and communing with nature. At this time, he got engaged to Laura C Basile whom he later married. He graduated in May 1977, packed his bags, and set off for his first assignment in Ketchikan, Alaska. His competitive nature drove him to compete for a highly sought after degree in oceanography. That summer was spent sailing on the Coast Guard flagship “The Bark Eagle” to Europe. This along with his Eagle Scout badge contributed to securing a spot at the Coast Guard Academy in May 1973 in New London Connecticut.

Guy started his higher education at McPherson High School where he excelled in sports and academics. His brother Mark preceded his birth by four years. Guy Rondell Gerard was born in Salina, Kansas to Helen Lorriane Gans and Donald Edward Gerard on February 3, 1955.

Sentinel newspaper obituaries