English: Bernard Arthur Gunter was born in western
St. Francis County February 4, 1921 to George Walter (1902-1961) and Lilly Duvall (1902-1933) Gunter. Gunter attended
Forrest City High School and enlisted in the
U. S. Navy in 1939, serving on the
USS California, and numerous Merchant Marine oil tankers who were assigned uniformed navy gun crews. After being released from active duty in 1945, Gunter returned to Forrest City, Arkansas and took a job with the
Federal Compress & Warehouse Company, based in
Memphis, that provided cotton storage for farmers of the Mid-South areas of
Arkansas,
Tennessee,
Mississippi and
Missouri. Gunter was awarded a direct commission as First Lieutenant with the
Arkansas Army National Guard and served the state of Arkansas for 28 years, retiring as Commander of the 142nd Field Artillery Group (which later became the
142nd Fires Brigade). Colonel Gunter worked for the Southwide Company until his death on November 11, 1980. He is interred at the New Salem Cemetery in
Lee County.