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2nd Lt Cecil M. Gurganus was an insurance salesman, before he joined the Regular Army in New York City, New York, on 10 December 1942. He was stationed at Victory Field Correctional Academy in Vernon, Texas in 1944.

On 27 March 1945, each squadron in the 362nd Fighter Group launched 16-plane missions northeast of Frankfurt, a distance that required them to carry belly tanks. The missions destroyed much rail and road transport, and the 379th Fighter Squadron dropped its belly tanks on a concentration of vehicles, which trailing aircraft then set on fire with strafing. During its mission, the 377th lost two aircraft; a midair collision on take-off between Lt Thomas Pantoliano in P-47D 42-28626 and Lt Cecil Gurganus in P-47D 42-26345, resulted in moderate damage to Pantoliano’s plane but sent Gurganus’ plane out of control. The pilot was killed when the Thunderbolt crashed not far from base.

He was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery in Limey, France.

He is remembered at the Onslow Memorial Park in Jacksonville, Onslow County, North Carolina.