World War II Honoree

Alfred R. Gildea

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Central Islip, New York

Honored By

Michael McTiernan

He volunteered for the U.S. Naval Reserve Medical Corps, being placed on active duty June 8, 1942 and assigned to the U.S. Naval Hospital at Bethesda, Maryland for his indoctrination. He completed the Flight Surgeon Course at Pensacola, Florida in December 1942 and spent a year at the Aviation Cadet Selection Board in Detroit, Michigan. For the next six months he was at the U.S. Naval Primary Training Base, Bunker Hill, Indiana, as Flight Surgeon. He was stationed at various bases in South America as Surgeon and Medical Officer. On return from overseas duty, he was stationed at the U.S. Naval Dispensary, Norfolk, Virginia, as Psychiatrist until his release from active duty on February 15, 1946.