Robert Daryl Gallup ( Missoula 1954 )
posted: Jan 1, 2002
Captain Robert Gallup died June 16, 1965, in Vietnam. He was born August 25, 1934. Robert graduated from Gorham-Fayette High School with the Class of'52. He received a scholarship to Ohio State University, taking general college courses and R.O.T.C. training. Having decided on a career in forestry he entered Montana State University, where through the summer of 1955 he flew helicopters and worked with the Montana State Fire Department Upon graduation in 1957 as an honor student, Robert spent the next four years training as a pilot. During this time, he passed from rank of 2nd Lieutenant to Captain.
Re-enlisting Robert spent two enjoyable years at Truax Air Force Base at Madison, Wisconsin as a pilot on the F 101 and F 102's, flying with the Strategic Air Command Patrol for the Northern Central States on regular patrol duty. Immediately on enlistment in early 1965 he volunteered for duty in Viet Nam where he had a plane accident at Pleik, Vietnam when his parachute failed to open.
Posthumously awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross, the sixth highest that to be awarded by the U.S. Air Force and The Three Oak Leaf Cluster. (After six months duty in Viet Nam his plan was to teach Air Science at the St. Lawrence University, St. Lawrence Wisconsin.)
Robert jumped at Missoula during the 1954 season and got one fire and one rescue jump.