Ensign Guffner was a pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31). On 22 January 1952, he was positioned for take off from the carrier's deck in the Pacific Ocean, when another aircraft trying to land struck his aircraft killing him.

Guffner was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.