Feb. 14, 1978–Oct. 12, 2000
Cherone Louis Gunn was born on 14 February 1978 in Portsmouth, Virginia, to Louge and Mona Gunn.
He graduated from Kempsville High School in 1997, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy Jan. 20, 2000.
After completing Basic Training in Great Lakes, Illinois, on March 29, 2000, Gunn was a student at Surface Warfare School Command, also at Great Lakes, completing training on May 5, 2000. He reported to USS Cole (DDG 67) on May 23, 2000.
Gunn was killed in the line of duty when a terrorist bomb was detonated along the port side of the ship while it was refueling in Aden, Yemen, on Oct. 12, 2000.
Seaman Apprentice Gunn was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, and the rank of Signalman.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
Sources: USS Cole (DDG 67) Med Cruise 2000 (Aug. 8–Nov. 3, 2000) Cruise Book in the collection of the Naval History and Heritage Command’s Navy Department Library. Awards and citations are sourced from the service member’s official military personnel file and listed in the Navy Department Awards Web Service site and may not be complete.