AND
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IN SERVICE BEYOND
Remembering a Coast Guard Hero Rear Admiral Marshall ‘Ed’ Gilbert, Class of 1958, Part I By CAPT Ken Thompson, USCG (ret), ’64 “That keeps you in the back roads, by the rivers of my memory … That keeps you ever gentle on my mind.” - Glen Campbell, 1968
Prologue “A laser intellect wrapped in a soft-talking, self-effacing personality who taught leadership through metaphors, homilies, and anecdotes.” - Admiral Thad Allen ’71 “When God was creating Ed Gilbert, He told the angels: ‘This is a special model, we are only making one of these’.” - Ross Norsworthy, RTCM “I can’t think of one interaction with him that didn’t leave me feeling that I probably could get college credits.” - Captain Charlie Harris ’71
R
ear Admiral Ed Gilbert and I were colleagues in a variety of endeavors over a period of more than 30 years, both while on active duty and as retirees engaged in Coast Guard and related matters. Our associations grew into a very close friendship as well. The morning following Ed’s death this past June, his wife Linda asked for my assistance with the various Coast Guard matters attendant to the situation. In doing so, I gained insight into the numerous testimonials and personal notes addressed to the family by scores of people, inside the Coast Guard and out. As I hope to make abundantly clear in what follows, those of us who knew and served with Ed - many of whom have provided input here - know him to be a genuine Coast Guard hero whose substantial contributions to our service, and related organizations, merit acclaim and recognition beyond those who served beside him and saw for themselves. We who knew Ed well agree that his most significant contribution was the influence he had on those
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“We who knew [RADM Ed Gilbert ’58] well agree that his most significant contribution was the influence he had on those around him,” writes the author.
around him. His leadership, mentorship, guidance and friendship impacted hundreds of officers and others which, in turn, magnified Ed’s impact several-fold. This first half of the article presents and memorializes the 35 years of Coast Guard Service that was RADM Ed Gilbert’s life while on active duty. The second half (shared as an online exclusive at www.cgaalumni.org/Dec20) documents his life post-retirement along with some “sea stories” and testimonials. Most importantly, both are a collection of remembrances of those with whom he served, influenced, led in sometimes difficult and complex situations, befriended and entertained.
Vietnam RADM Gilbert’s classmates and Vietnam Veterans, VADM Bob Nelson ’58 and CAPT Al Larzelere ’58 - through his book “The Coast Guard at War: Vietnam 1965-1975” provided input for the following… December 2020/January 2021
