Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, March 25, 1991                   TAG: 9103250111
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A1   EDITION: METRO  
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LEXINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

VMI BIDS FAREWELL TO ITS GRADUATES KILLED IN GULF WAR

With those words read in unison, 500 people at the cadet chapel at Virginia Military Institute Sunday morning summarized the lives of two graduates who diedin the Persian Gulf War.

Terry Lawrence Plunk, 25, of Vinton and Thomas Carlyle Morris Zuegner, 36, of Petersburg were eulogized as men committed to God, country, family and friends.

VMI Chaplain Charles C. Caudill challenged all to continue their legacy of integrity.

"Tom Zuegner and Terry Plunk died on the field of honor," Caudill said. "So, you and I must live in the field of honor."

Plunk, an Army first lieutenant and 1988 graduate, died Feb. 26 while clearing away land mines just outside Kuwait City. Zuegner, an Army major and 1976 graduate, died while commanding 10 explosives-disposal units in Saudi Arabia during the closing hours of the war.

Both men were remembered by classmates for their their sense of humor and dedication to the well-being of their families and fellow cadets.

Gregory C. Gooch, a classmate of Plunk's who fought back tears as he spoke, said Plunk's influence will live on.

"As long as there is a remaining member of the class of 1988, he will always live in our hearts," he said.

As a cadet, Plunk rose to one of the top ranks in the school. He was awarded the Cincinnati Medal by the faculty for academic and all-around excellence.

He had graduated from William Byrd High School in Vinton with a perfect grade-point average. He wrestled and played football and soccer at the school and was awarded the B'nai B'rith Award for his accomplishments in academics, athletics and citizenship.

"It is not our place to wonder or query why," Gooch said. "We must just realize he is in a better place. Terry died doing what we knew he would be doing - serving his country."

Zuegner, a former co-captain of the school's swimming team, was also remembered for his leadership qualities.

"The special thing about Tom's life was it was not filled with a collection of `could haves,' `would haves' or `should haves,' " said Kent R. Carrington, also a 1976 graduate. "He made a point of being with his family when he could. He relied on his friends."

Many of those friends attended Sunday's ceremony, which was steeped in VMI's rich military tradition.

Behind the speakers stood a mural of the Civil War's Battle of New Market, where 10 cadets lost their lives. The school's glee club snapped to attention for an a cappella rendition of "America the Beautiful."

Outside, seven cadet riflemen fired three volleys in a 21-gun salute. Taps was trumpeted as spectators wept and American flags were given to Plunk's mother, Doris, and Zuegner's brother, John.

And in a eerie twist of nature, high winds rattled the windows of the church, mimicking too closely the muffled sound of distant gunfire.

***CORRECTION***

Published correction ran on March 26, 1991\ Correction

Because of a reporter's error, the name of Thomas Zeugner, a VMI graduate who died in the Persian Gulf War, was misspelled in a story Monday.

\

Memo: correction