GALEN E. GILBERT, LTJG, USN
Galen Gilbert '64
Lucky Bag
From the 1964 Lucky Bag:
GALEN EVERETT GILBERT
Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Galen
23rd Company
Galen graduated from Tahlequah High School in '60 and in July of that year, abandoned the Ozark hills of which he was very fond and took up his residency at the Naval Academy. While at USNA, Gil spent more of his time counting the days until leave, than anyone else. The most remarkable thing about this "Sooner" was the fine grades he obtained with a minimum of study time. His quiet, easy-going personality could be found in whatever he did, from academics to athletics. Galen gave much of his time and talent to the Methodist Church in Annapolis. In the field of athletics, he spent many hours on the squash courts, improving an already superior game. Most certainly, whatever field of endeavor Galen follows in the future will be crowned with success.
GALEN EVERETT GILBERT
Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Galen
23rd Company
Galen graduated from Tahlequah High School in '60 and in July of that year, abandoned the Ozark hills of which he was very fond and took up his residency at the Naval Academy. While at USNA, Gil spent more of his time counting the days until leave, than anyone else. The most remarkable thing about this "Sooner" was the fine grades he obtained with a minimum of study time. His quiet, easy-going personality could be found in whatever he did, from academics to athletics. Galen gave much of his time and talent to the Methodist Church in Annapolis. In the field of athletics, he spent many hours on the squash courts, improving an already superior game. Most certainly, whatever field of endeavor Galen follows in the future will be crowned with success.
Loss & Other Information
From the August-September 1966 issue of Shipmate:
Lt.(jg) Galen E. Gilbert, USN, was lost at sea during an operational flight off the coast of Southern California on the night of 20 July [1966]. Memorial services were held in the Airman Memorial Chapel, Naval Air Station, Miramar, on the 23rd.
Lt. Gilbert was born in Siloam Springs, Ark., and was graduated from high school in Tahlequah, Okla., and from the Naval Academy in 1964. He was designated a naval aviator in December 1965, and was assigned to Fighter Squadron 174 for Fleet Replacement Pilot Training in January 1966, where he remained until 3 June when he reported for duty with VF-194 at NAS Miramar. He was making instrument approaches to the carrier Ticonderoga when the accident took place.
He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Galen O. Gilbert of 1112 South High St., Neosho, Mo., and a brother, Jessie Ray Gilbert, also of Neosho.
The Class of 1964 column later in that issue said "Gil became known as one of the most easy-going and popular of our members. He was an ardent squash and football fan." Galen was piloting a F-8 Crusader.
Galen's Find A Grave page is here.
Photographs
From the August-September 1966 issue of Shipmate.
Related Articles
Daryl Summers '64 was also in 23rd Company.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
