BRIGADIER GENERAL AUGUSTUS M. GURNEY “Gus” Gurney) was born on 18 February 1895 in Oneonta, a community in New York State not far from the Catskill mountains. He was appointed from there to the United States Military Academy at West Point which he entered on 14 June 1913. For several months prior to that time he attended the National Preparatory Academy (commonly known as “Braden’s”) for West Point at Highland Falls, adjacent to West Point. This school was conducted by Lieutenant Charles Braden, a member of the Class of 1868, United States Military Academy, who had been retired from the Army because of wounds received in the Indian wars, From him and some of his fellow students (one of whom was Mark Wayne Clark) who were sons of graduates and the proximity of West Point to the school, “Gus“ received his first impressions of West Point and Army life. Some of these may have appeared somewhat distorted to him during “Beast Barracks." but “Gus” had the ability to overcome inconveniences on his way toward achieving his goal of graduating from West Point and becoming a well-qualified Army officer. He was a good student, a hard worker, conscientious and possessed of an analytical mind.
Graduation day was 20 April 1917, two weeks after the declaration of a state of war with Germany. “Gus" graduated well up in class standing and was assigned to the Field Artillery Branch. His battery became part of the famed First Division American Expeditionary Forces, the first division to land in France in 1917 in World War I. While in France, he also served a tour of duty as a balloon observer, being one of the pioneer officers in that field.
Shortly after his return to the United States following World War I, he was assigned as an instructor at West Point where he served four years. This was but the beginning of a series of details to Army and civilian schools which were interspersed with periods of duty with troops. Graduation from the Field Artillery and the Signal Corps schools was followed by the attaining of a Master of Science degree at Yale University. Subsequently, he graduated from the Command and Staff School two-year-course and from the Army War College. These assignments contributed to his qualifications as a superior instructor and General Staff officer.
In 1937 came his assignment to the faculty of the Army General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth. This proved to be a most important duty as the potential war situation in Europe became more and more threatening. The instruction at Fort Leavenworth was to have a significant influence on the students, many of whom were to be the successful leaders in command and staff positions in our World War II Armed Forces. “Gus,” with his ability to prepare and impart his well-rounded knowledge, received weil-deserved credit for his share of this instruction.
The next assignment was as a Corps General Staff officer and later as an Army General Staff officer. His training and studies and his ability to assume responsibility and to assist in getting the job on hand done, amply qualified him for his duties. The Commanding General of the Second Army was to rate him as one of the best staff officers he had ever known. General Gurney also commanded Artillery troops and later the United States troops at Adak, Alaska. His final active duty assignments were at the Army Field Forces and First Army Headquarters.
In 1954, he was retired for physical disability. This did not deter him from performing civic duties on his return to Oneonta. Later he established his home in Southern Pines, North Carolina. He endured his increasingly severe illness with fortitude until he passed away in 1967. His family and friends will also remember “Gus” for his personal qualities; modesty of demeanor, honesty, loyalty, good judgment and common sense are among them.
General Gurney was married in 1919 to Dora Bonbright of New York City, who passed away in 1944. Their two daughters, Margaret (Peg) Gurney and Louise Gurney Ferrell survive him.
In 1946 he married Gladys Kirton of Aynor, South Carolina, who survives him at Southern Pines, North Carolina.