Private First Class Terry Gemas joined the U.S. Marines in 1965 where he last served as a Field Artillery Fire Control Man. He had been deployed overseas since April and was scheduled to be discharged soon when he was killed in action in Quang Tri, Vietnam.

Gemas was on the football squad at Brashear High School, Brownsville, before moving to California and as a senior he won all-state honors playing guard at Huntington Park High School in California.

Terry left a great number of proud family members who think of him often, many of whom he never met, including his one-month-old son, Lex Brian.