Guys,
I just received an E-mail from Gene's brother Steve. We served in the 174th AHC in Vietnam and met at our Annual Reunions. Below is the information on Gene. Keep the family in your thoughts and prayers.
On May 1st, Gene went into cardiac arrest while driving near his home in Houston. He was taken to the hospital unconscious. They do not know how long his heart was stopped before CPR was initiated. He did not have any significant injuries from wreaking the car, but it is totaled. Since then, he has remained in an induced coma and on a ventilator. Gene also has COPD and kidney problems. Part of his care has involved dialysis. At this point, the outlook is not positive. Today they took him off the sedative and he was not responsive although his step-daughter tells me he did open one eye.
Gene was a Houston police officer for over 35 years working in Criminal Intelligence. He worked closely with the Secret Service on Presidential and other VIP visits. In Vietnam, he flew C models and Cobras with the 238th Aerial Weapons Company in Lon Son 719. Gene is married, with two step-daughters and a grandson.