My mentor and good friend, Robert H. Gallagher, passed away on 23 Feb 2015.
As a friend and mentor, he has influenced me in many ways, taught me to think critically, and was crucial in strengthening my foundations as a naval officer.
The following is an extract about his life, taken from his memorial service held on April 5, 2015 at St. Gall Catholic Church in Gardnerville, Nevada:
Robert H. Gallagher was born to Merchant Marine Harold Gallagher (where Robert believed he got his "sea legs") and Ruth Eugenia (nee: Reasoner) Gallagher on May 2, 1946, in Toledo, Ohio. He spent his younger years in Ohio, Maryland, and Florida. He graduated in June 1965 from Dixie Hollins High School in Pinellas Park, Florida.
Robert joined the U.S. Navy Reserve prior to his high school graduation and went onto boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center later that same year. His enlisted years in the Navy were spent as an Engineman on two LSTs (Landing Ship, Tank) during the Vietnam conflict--where he was promoted up through the enlisted ranks to Chief Petty Officer. In the early 1970s, he separated from the Navy to attend college. He received his Bachelor's of Science degree in Psychology from the University of California, Riverside in 1975 and a Master's degree in International Relations from Troy State University in 1988.
In 1975, he re-joined the Navy graduating from Officer Candidate School with a commission to the rank of "Ensign." He obtained his Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) wings in 1976 from the Pensacola Naval Training Center. He served his aviator career in Fixed Wing Squadron 151 and 161 flying in the F-4 Phantom jet. Robert spent the majority of his naval career in the Pacific theater having spent four tours of duty on USS Midway (CV-41)--two squadron tours and two ship's company tours--forward-deployed in Yokosuka, Japan. He and Sandra met in San Diego and married in April 1986.
Following his retirement as a Lieutenant Commander in November 1991, Robert became an English sensei and mentor to Japan National Defense Academy students, several of whom he remained close to following his return to the United States in 2006. Upon Sandra's retirement in 2012, he and Sandra made their final move from Pennsylvania to Gardnerville, Nevada where he passed on February 23, 2015.
Throughout his life, Robert loved the Navy and his Irish roots (a stubborn Irishman he was!). He especially liked history and politics. He was well read and could talk to almost any subject. He enjoyed travelling the world and acting as a "tour guide" no matter where he lived or travelled. He had a very creative mind and could be a "MacGyver" when needed, and he truly enjoyed tinkering with his Honda vehicles. Family and friends gave him several aliases over the years including "Chief," "Admiral," and "Professor"--all of which he was very proud.
Some other things about Robert that I came to know about along the way during the many years of our friendship.
- After getting his Bachelor's degree, Robert had wanted to return to the surface fleet (where he came from during his enlisted days), but was told by the recruiting officer that the Navy was not accepting applications for the surface fleet. He thus decided to sign up as an aviator, thinking that if he flunked flight school, the Navy would assigned him to the surface fleet. Of course, he didn't flunk flight school, and went on to completing the rest of his naval career as an aviator.
- While he was staying in Japan after his retirement, he would bring visiting USN admirals on tours in Tokyo, to places such as the Tsukiji fish market.
- He has ejected from a plane before. Apparently, it was a planned ejection. The ejection seat used for this planned ejection was still on display in USS Midway when he brought me around in 2010.
- He was married to a Japanese lady while stationed in Yokosuka, and they had a daughter. They divorced, however, and he did not talk much about this first marriage.
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