Former Gilroy Mayor and current Gulf Breeze, Florida resident
and retired Col. Mike Gilroy joins the exclusive company of other
famous aviators like Jimmy Doolittle, Neil Armstrong and John Glenn
when he is honored at the Gathering of Eagles Ceremony at
Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base’s Air University at Montgomery, Ala.,
in late May.
By Franklin Hayes Gulf Breeze News
Gulf Breeze, Fla. – Former Gilroy Mayor and current Gulf Breeze, Florida resident and retired Col. Mike Gilroy joins the exclusive company of other famous aviators like Jimmy Doolittle, Neil Armstrong and John Glenn when he is honored at the Gathering of Eagles Ceremony at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base’s Air University at Montgomery, Ala., in late May.
“It is quite an honor, and I think I’m a little outclassed,” the retired colonel said.
However, his friends and family feel otherwise.
“My father is a very humble man, and he would say something like that. He’s one of the most highly decorated Air Force guys,” his son, Mike Gilroy said. Gilroy received the prestigious Air Force Cross for his valor in battle during the Vietnam War.
According to the Legion of Valor Web site (www.legionofvalor. com), “Col. Gilroy, (then Captain), distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism as Electronics Warfare Officer of an F-105 aircraft engaged in a pre-strike, missile suppression mission in North Vietnam on March 10, 1967. On that date, Capt. Gilroy guided his pilot in attacking and destroying a surface-to-air missile installation protecting one of the most important industrial complexes in North Vietnam. He accomplished this feat even after formidable hostile defenses had destroyed the lead aircraft and had crippled a second. Though his own aircraft suffered extensive battle damage and was under constant attack by MIG interceptors, antiaircraft artillery, automatic weapons, and small arms fire, Capt. Gilroy aligned several ingenious close range attacks on the hostile defenses at great risk to his own life. Due to his technical skill, the attacks were successful and the strike force was able to bomb the target without loss. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship and aggressiveness, Capt. Gilroy has reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.”
Other honorees will include Hal Moore, who inspired the movie “We Were Soldiers”, retired Col. George “Bud” Day, retired Col. Joe Kittinger, Paul Airey, Lee “Buddy” Archer, retired Brig. Gen. David “Tex” Hill, Frederick Blesse, Robert Rosenthatl, Barbara Erickson London, Stan Wood, Eugene Kranz, Paul Airey, Kermit Weeks, Susan Helms, Steve Pisanos, and retired Maj. Gen. Robert White.
Retired Col. Mike Gilroy retired to Gulf Breeze in 2000. He spent six years on the Gilroy City Council and two years as Mayor.
The city of Gilroy was founded by Mike Gilroy’s great-great-great-grandfather John Cameron who later used his mother’s maiden name, Gilroy, to evade legal entanglements.
Editor’s Note: This story is being reprinted with permission and copyrights belong to the Gulf Breeze News.
