Master Sergeant Gavurnik was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a Platoon Sergeant with Company G, 2nd Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy east of Kumhwa at "Outpost Harry" in North Korea on 16 May 1953.

For his leadership and valor, Master Sergeant Gavurnik was awarded the Silver Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal, the European Theater of Operations Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.