World War II Honoree

Harold Gwen Gay

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Delta, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Sergeant. He was inducted into the United States Marine Corps August 2, 1941 at Denver, Colorado. Following his Basic Military Training at the Marine Corps Base in San Diego, California; he was designated to attend the Marine Corps Aviation Flight Training Program. And along with any additional training; he was deployed to the Southwestern Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to the VMSB-143 Squadron, Marine Air Group-12 and an element of the Second Marine Air Wing. His unit was based at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. He served as a Radio Operator/Bombardier/Nose Gunner aboard the Grumman TBF Avenger-Torpedo Bomber. Sunday, March 21, 1943 he was reported as “Missing-in-Action”, along with two other crew men, when his squadron was dispatched to sow mines off the coast of Bougainville, North Solomon Islands Location: Papua New Guinea. The mission was flown in darkness, under strict radio silence. His name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Location: Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines. In his Memory and Honor, a cenotaph memorial has been placed at the Delta Cemetery, located at Delta, Colorado. This American Patriot received the following Decorations posthumously: Air Medal, Purple Heart, and his Silver Aviator Badge. The Air Medal was awarded to the Sergeant for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. The Purple Heart was awarded for his Heroism, and ultimate sacrifice. He served his Country with Pride and Honor.