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 1 May to 30 June 1970. The allied push into Cambodia during the spring of 1970 brought the SEALORDS forces into a unique operational environment. At 0730 local time on 9 May, 10 days after ground troops crossed the border, a combined Vietnamese-American naval task force steamed up the Mekong River to wrest control of that key waterway from North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces.
The flotilla, led by a Vietnamese naval officer, was composed of American PCFs, ASPBs, PBRs, HAL-3 and VAL-4 aircraft, Benewah, Askari, Hunterdon County, YRBM 16, YRBM 21 and 10 strike assault boats (STAB) of Strike Assault Boat Squadron 20, a fast-reaction unit created by Admiral Zumwalt in 1969. The Vietnamese contingent included riverine assault craft of many types, PCFs, PBRs, and marine battalions.
Naval Advisory Group personnel sailed with each Vietnamese vessel. By the end of the first day, Vietnamese naval units reached the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, while to the south the combined force stormed enemy-held Neak Luong, a strategic ferry crossing point on the river. For political reasons, no U.S. personnel were allowed past Neak Luong, midway to Phnom Penh.
Although the American component pulled out of Cambodia by 29 June, the Vietnamese continued to guard the Mekong and evacuate to South Vietnam over 82,000 ethnic Vietnamese jeopardized by the conflict.
