David Drew Gilpatrick

West Point, 1955

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Carl H. McNair, Jr. on December 24, 2011:

As has been recognized by so many, Dave Gilpatrick was a role model for us all, a stellar individual, one of the top cadets in our class, in leadership - on the Brigade Staff, in academics - star man and #6 in the class academically, a friend to and respected by all, as evidenced by his election as a class officer in our firstie year. Being in Company F-1, adjacent to my own Company E-1, I came to know Dave well, as we shared classes, intramurals, drill, extra curricular activities and summer trips. Although he went Armor Branch and I went Infantry and Aviation, our paths crossed often and I always admired his intellect and aptitude for the military. A few years after graduation, we attended Graduate School at Georgia Tech together for two years as we pursued advanced degrees and shared in college life, including Saturday football games and the famous Georgia Tech win over #1 Alabama with Joe Namath at quarterback. Dave went on for his three year utilization tour with the Armor Board and I went to the Pentagon for duty in the Office of the Chief of R&D, and our paths crossed in many such assignments thereafter. After retirment, Dave was employed by SAIC when I served as the Deputy Director of Army Requirements and Army Aviation Officer, working closely with industry and many of our USMA grads in the industrial community on future Army needs. Dave was among that select group of officers who had worked for LTG Bill Depuy, the Asst VCSA, identifying Army needs of the future, under the AirLand Battle Doctrine, always the bright and intuitive thinker he was. After his fateful stroke,Jo Ann and I would visit him as he recuperated and went through his rehab similar to what Jo Ann had experieced years before. Dave remained as cheerful and upbeat as ever, setting the example to the end. We are all deeply saddened with Dave's passing and know he will be sorely missed. May he now rest in eternal peace in the arms of the Almighty. Carl McNair Friend, '55 Classmate and Fellow Soldier

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