 |
MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Jan '53
Hobart Raymond Gay, Jr. No. 16022
Class Of 1946 Killed August 10, 1952, in a Plane Crash,
Near Falmouth, Massachusetts, aged 28 years |
Hoby Gay was a familiar sight at West Point with his blond
hair and friendly smile. All of us who knew him learned to appreciate
his sunny disposition and generous heart, and we feel a great
loss now that he is gone.
Hoby was born February 26, 1924, at Fort Riley, Kansas, as
a true "Army Brat". He entered school in El Reno, Oklahoma,
in 1929 and, as Is the case for most "Brats", proceeded
from one school to another as his parents moved from Panama to
Philadelphia to Washington, DC. Hoby entered Philly's Exeter
Academy for the summer session in 1940 and then enrolled In Marion
Military Institute in September 1940.
Hoby came to us at West Point on the 1st of July 1943, having
received his appointment from the Honorable Luther Patrick of
Alabama. With his familiar grin, Hoby soon won us all over and
promptly assumed a position of popularity. Although academics
presented a hurdle, Hoby surmounted all his problems with the
same ease and grace with which he dove from the diving board
as a member of the Diving Team at West Point. As a member of
the team he received honorable mention as an All-America diving
star.
After receiving his initial flight training at Uvalde, Texas,
in 1945, Hoby continued on to Stewart Field where one of his
roommates George Lee Cleere was killed in the summer of 1945.
Upon being graduated, with his wings, Hoby reported to Shaw AFB
and later was assigned to Wheeler AFB, T. H., where he served
as a member of a famous acrobatic flying team in the spring of
1949.
Hoby returned to the States late in 1949 with his new bride,
the former Jane Jarcho of Forest Hills, Long Island, whom he
married on June 20, 1948. Janie presented Hoby with a son, Hobart
R. Gay III, on September 28, 1949. After his initial leave on
arrival, Hoby ran the gamut of bases in Michigan, New Mexico,
Washington, and Florida until late in the summer of 1950, when
he volunteered for duty in Korea, where he flew jet aircraft
for 105 combat missions in addition to a tour of duty as a Tactical
Air Controller with his father, Major General Gay, in the 1st
Cavalry Division.
Having completed his tour in Korea, with awards of the Distinguished
Flying Cross with an Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal with four
Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Distinguished Unit Citation with an
Oak Leaf Cluster, Hoby returned to the States after a short tour
in the Philippines and again began the round of Air Force Bases.
During the latter part of 1951 and until August 10, 1952, when
he died, Hoby was flying from Otis AFB, Falmouth, Massachusetts,
where he had taken the Advanced F-94 Course.
On a routine flight on August 10, 1952, Hoby was returning
to his base; he had radioed in for landing instructions; then
nothing more was heard. A search was organized at once, and an
oil spot was discovered on the surface of the Atlantic, not too
far from shore. The search extended to the nearby Islands and
under the water, but to no avail. Hoby's body has not yet been
recovered, and for this reason no memorial services have yet
been held.
Despite the grievous pain in the hearts of those who knew
and loved Hoby, we can't help but feel he's gone to the resting
place set aside for all good soldiers.
To those of us who knew Hoby, it's not necessary to describe
his personality and character; to others who weren't fortunate
enough to know him well, it's impossible; for how can one put
a grin, a towheaded boy, and a face reflecting an inner happiness
into mere words?
Hoby dedicated himself from early childhood to a life In the
Army, and he died as he would have wanted, "in line of duty".
He leaves behind friends and family with a deep sense of grief
over their loss, but he also leaves a memory of a boy and man
dedicated to the principles by which he lived and died, "Duty,
Honor, Country".
-His Roommate.
|