TBS 2-67 Cruisebook_Updated_7Jan23

Michael Charles Wunsch
something."
Goodwin asked that Wunsch fire a beehive
round to clear the area. Wunsch stated that
he only had one beehive round and would
prefer to save it in the event they needed it
later. Goodwin would later regret not
making it an order, although he understood
the thinking.
Wunsch had with him an M­79 grenade
launcher and suggested that he fire 2 or 3
rounds in the direction he believed that he
had saw movement. He fired off the rounds
with no results. Capt Goodwin returned to
his position.
Thirty to forty minutes later, the NVA cut
loose with a barrage of mortars and RPGs.
As Capt. Wunsch was about to report the
new activity, the first RPG hits the turret
next to Capt. Wunsch and kills him
instantly. His finger is depressing the mike’s
key, thus disabling all communications
within Kilo Company.
Once Wunsch’s finger is dislodged from the
microphone, Capt. Goodwin is able to call in
for arty to repel the NVA force about to
overrun his position. As the artillery
command bunker is receiving Goodwin’s
coordinates, he is informed that these
coordinates are "Danger Close" to their
embattled position. After a few choice
words from Goodwin to the command
bunker, the arty is delivered. Within a short
period of time, "Puff" will make an
appearance and the Marines are able to
remove the dead and extract the wounded
from the field.
Michael Charles Wunsch came to the Naval
Academy with a winning combination of talents.
Recruited for football, he wrestled equally well.
Naturally curious, he made himself into a student
by getting up at three AM to study. Disciplined in
everything he turned to, he mastered the grease
system. But it was his people skills that set him
apart. He genuinely liked people, even while
harboring few illusions about human nature, and
connected with everyone he encountered. Funny,
self­effacing, sympathetic, wise before his time, and
engaging in his conversational style, he was a
magnet for his friends....He could have spent his
whole thirteen months in language work, but he
insisted on doing half his time in tanks.
(Extracts from the memorials in the USNA '66 40th Reunion
Yearbook)
M‐115