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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Nov '92
John William Gillespie, Jr. No.15988 Class of 1946
Died 2 October 1987 at Aberdeen, Maryland, aged 64 years. Interment:
Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. |
John William (Jack) Gillespie, Jr. was born 25
April 1923 in Brooklyn, New York. As a youngster, his life paralleled
that of most of his contemporaries. He enjoyed sports and was
as excellent runner on the St. Augustines High School track team.
One of his fondest memories was participating in the 100-yard
and 220-yard dash in Madison Square Garden. After graduating
from St. Augustines in 1941, Jack attended St. John's University
in Brooklyn for a year before receiving his much-sought-after
appointment to West Point in 1942. He found academics more than
he had bargained for and was turned back to join the Class of
1946.
Starting over was not much easier for Jack. The
academic side of cadet life was a constant struggle, but he managed
to survive. His roommate, Bernie Janis, recalled that Jack's
perseverance was what carried him through the tough struggles
with the Academic Departments. On the other hand, he breezed
through all other aspects of cadet life. Bernie Janis remembered
that Jack was jovial, humorous, a lot of fun and a warm-hearted
person. Jack became a second lieutenant in the Coast Artillery
upon graduation.
Following the usual basic schooling, Jack's first
assignment was to Japan in 1947, where he served in various positions
with the 865 AAA AW Battalion. He returned to the States in 1949
and was assigned to the 19th AAA Group at Fort Meade, Maryland.
While there, Jack married Helen Louise Lewandowski in Brooklyn,
New York on 14 April 1950. From Maryland, the Gillespies moved
to Fort Bliss, Texas, where Jack attended the Guided Missile
Course. This was followed by a year of instruction in Special
Weapons at Sandia Base, New Mexico. From there, the Gillespies
traveled to Killeen Base, Texas where Jack was a training officer.
In 1955 Jack transferred to the Ordnance Corps. Following the
Ordnance Officers Advanced Course, Jack and Helen moved to Germany,
where he was assigned to the 12th Ordnance Battalion. Returning
to the States, Jack was selected to attend Babson Institute in
Wellesley, Massachusetts, where he received his Masters in Business
Administration. It was while at Babson that Jack had occasion
to renew ties with a childhood friend, Robert (Bob) Walker. The
two had been inseparable as youngsters but had only maintained
their friendship through correspondence after adulthood. Bob
had gone into the oil business and was stationed in Venezuela.
In 1958, Bob's wife became ill and returned to the States for
treatment in Boston. Their two older children had returned with
them and when Bob's wife required lengthy hospitalization, Bob
realized that he was in a real bind. His longtime friend Jack
and Helen came to his rescue and took the girls into their home
for the length of the hospitalization. As Bob recalled: "...and
what a blessing that Jack was there to help me. But that was
Jack, always there ready to help and lend support." From
Babson, Jack moved to the Springfield Armory, Springfield, Massachusetts,
where he served as assistant to the Chief, Operations Division,
and later, as chief. In 1964, Jack had a short tour to Korea
as Chief, Maintenance Division, Camp Carrol Depot. Returning
to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland in 1966, Jack retired from
the Army on 29 November 1966 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Jack's first venture into civilian life was with
the AAI Corporation in Cockeysville, Maryland. He first served
as assistant to the president and then as assistant director
of manufacturing. In 1973, Jack joined the Dundalk Community
College in Dundalk, Maryland as director of Community Services.
In 1976 he was promoted to Director of Career Education, a position
he held until his retirement in 1985. Jack died on 2 October
1987. He was survived by his wife, Helen, a daughter, Deborah
and two sons, John and Robert and his sister Dorothy.
Jack Gillespie was proud of his West Point heritage.
He lived by its principles and treasured what it meant to him.
He was a loving husband and devoted father. One of the joys of
his life was to see his daughter and two sons graduate from college
and launch their own successful careers in education, industry
and military service. His family was very important to him and
he devoted much of his energy to their well being. In addition
to being a patriot and devoted family man, Jack was a good and
true friend. Bob Walker recalled: "Jack was a friend in
the true meaning of the word. He was there when you needed him.
Always thoughtful--compassionate to your needs...As you well
know, you may meet many, many people in your life and it is truly
wonderful when you can say I do have a friend. Jack was and always
will be my friend." Jack Gillespie was taken from his family,
friends, and classmates just when he had reached that point in
his life where he could begin to do the things he had dreamed
of all his adult life. That he could not do those things is the
world's loss, for who knows what accomplishments lay ahead of
him. He is missed by all who knew and loved him. The world is
a better place for the relatively short time he was here. He
will always be remembered. The Class of 1946 joins his family
in saying, "Well Done, Jack; Be Thou At Peace!"
'46 Memorial Article Project and his wife, Helen
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