This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Barbara Gilmartin-Family
to remember
GILMARTIN, John L. (Gil), GM2.
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Contact Info
Home Town Haverhill
Last Address John was born and died in Haverhill, MA USA
Date of Passing Oct 28, 2008
Location of Interment Saint James Cemetery - Haverhill, Massachusetts
John L. Gilmartin passed away on October 28, 2008 at his home surrounded by his loving family after a lengthy illness. He spent 31 years employed by the State of Massachusetts at the Annisquam River Marine Fishers Station before retiring in 2007. John was a true nature lover who spent much of his free time tending his flower gardens with his wife, Sandra, and strolling around the woods of Crystal Lake admiring the wildlife near his home. The entire family took great pleasure in his vast knowledge of all things outdoors. All who knew him will sadly miss John.
While in Vietnam John served with River Assault Squadron 15 as a Gunnersmate onboard C-151-2 from August 1968 to June 1969. He then became a Naval Advisor to the South Vietnamese Navy during his second tour of duty. John was a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal w/V, Navy Achievement Medal w/V, two Purple Hearts and several other unit awards to include the Presidential Unit Citation.
Other Comments:
BATTLE STREAMER : VIET-NAM SERVICE
US Navy Viet-Nam : Seventeen Campaigns
John L. Gilmartin, GMG 2nd Class
Republic of Viet-Nam: 1968-1970
Served in Seven Campaigns, 8 through 14
From August 1968 to June 1969 Mobile Riverine Force/ RAS 15/ CCB151-2
From June 1969 to September 1970 Naval Advisor to Viet Riverine Force RAID73
Description This Campaign period was from 23 February to 8 June 1969. The overall composition of the SEALORDS task force in South Vietnam reflected the growing role of the Vietnamese Navy in the war. The newly elected administration of President Richard M. Nixon formally adopted as U.S. policy the Vietnamization program early in 1969.
The naval part of that process, termed ACTOV (Accelerated Turnover to the Vietnamese), embodied the incremental transfer to Vietnam of NAVFORV's river and coastal combatant fleet and the logistic support establishment. ACTOV was more than the provision of material, however, for the Vietnamese Navy needed training in the operation, maintenance, and repair of the U.S. equipment and in the efficient functioning of the supply system. Leadership skills at all command levels required improvement as did the general morale of naval personnel before the Vietnamese Navy would be able to fight on alone.
Spearheaded by the 564 officers and men of the Naval Advisory Group early in 1969, the U.S. Navy integrated Vietnamese sailors into the crews of American ships and craft. When sufficiently trained, the Vietnamese bluejackets and officers relieved their American counterparts, who then rotated back to the United States. As entire units came under Vietnamese Navy command, control of the various SEALORDS operations passed to that naval service as well.
