Vernon Walter Gillespie, Jr.

Lieutenant Colonel Vernon Walter Gillespie, Jr., U.S. Army, was born in Los Angeles on 23 June 1933. Gillespie’s family later settled in Oklahoma. While at Classen High School in Oklahoma City, Gillespie enlisted in the Army Reserve in August 1950, graduating in 1951. He later graduated from Cameron University in Lawton, OK. In September 1954 he graduated from the Infantry Officer Candidate School as a 2nd Lieutenant Infantry Officer, then transferred to the Field Artillery branch.

During Gillespie’s first 18-month tour in South Vietnam, he volunteered and served with 1st Special Forces Group as the Commander of Detachment A124, Camp Khe Sanh (February 1963); Group Assistant Intelligence Officer (September 1963); and Commander, Detachment A312 at Camp Buon Bring (June 1965). For his actions on 20-21 September 1964, during the short-lived “Montagnard Uprising,” Gillespie was awarded two Bronze Stars, each signed by General Westmoreland. On this tour he earned his Ranger Tab, Special Forces Tab, and Combat Infantryman Badge.

On his second tour, Gillespie was awarded the Silver Star for his exceptional valorous actions on 15 December 1967 while serving as Commander of the 2nd/19th Field Artillery. During an infantry assault of a heavily fortified position, Major Gillespie directed his command aircraft to land in a dangerous LZ, repeatedly exposing himself to hostile fire, while moving to forward fighting positions to ensure artillery fire was effective on the enemy position. Gillespie’s other awards include three Legions of Merit, one Bronze Star medal, two Army Commendation Medals, and three Air Medals.

After retiring in 1975, Gillespie was recalled in August 1990 for the first Gulf War, serving as Special Assistant to the Commanding General, Forces Command, before retiring again in September 1991 with 33 years of service. He passed away on 3 January 2017 and was laid to rest with honors at Arlington National Cemetery.