An American Hero Receives a Fitting 100th Birthday Celebration on Pensacola Beach

NAS Pensacola Commanding Officer Tim Kinsella, on behalf of the Navy and NAS Pensacola,  offers birthday greetings and well-wishes to 100 year old WWII Navy Veteran Ray Gilbut on Saturday, September 25th 2021 at Pensacola Beach

They are known as the "Greatest Generation"--the men and women who stepped up to fight for America in World War II.  My Grandfather was a member.  Most of us have a grandfather, or great grandfather, or Uncle or Aunt that served.  Many of us are of an age that we were fortunate enough to hear the stories from these men and women firsthand.

But these men and women are all reaching the age of 100--and sadly many are dying and soon they will all be gone.

So when I heard about a local who served in the U.S. Navy during WWII in the Pacific and about his upcoming 100th Birthday--I was happy to support the effort to recognize this hero.

Local retired Marine Bobby Bonsignore reached out to me and my aide, Debbie Kenney, and asked if the county could assist in the 100th celebration for this Navy WWII Veteran, Mr. Ray Gilbut.  District 4 Commissioner Robert Bender, along with his aide Angela Crawley, took point and put together a proclamation and assisted with obtaining Escambia County Public Safety vehicles and ECSO cruisers for a parade in front of Ray's Pensacola Beach home which happened yesterday afternoon.

On a picture-perfect chamber of commerce weather day at the beach-- hundreds of family and friends showed up to participate in the parade and to honor Ray at his home.  It was truly moving to meet this man, shake his hand and say "Thank you for what you did for our nation!"  His family surrounded him and really gave him a fantastic 100th birthday celebration.  Media were present, and NAS Pensacola Commanding Officer CAPT Tim Kinsella personally brought greetings and well-wishes for Ray on behalf of the Navy and NAS Pensacola.  Commissioner Bender read and presented the county proclamation--and numerous private citizens drove by, honking and waving at Ray as he watched on from his balcony above the street.  American flags were waving, folks were smiling and happy;it was certainly a moment that transcended politics.  It was a day to be proud of our nation and what we did in defeating the Axis forces in WWII to win freedom for America and the world at that time.   

Celebration organizer Bobby Bonsignore sent a synopsis of Ray's service, which read, in part, as follows:

"....allow me to introduce you to Ray Gilbut with a quick snap shot of his life: Born September 24, 1921 in Brooklyn, NY, from Lithuanian immigrants, he spent his youth living between NY and Connecticut.  Upon high school graduation he worked for Winchester as an apprentice and machinist.  After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Ray enlisted in the Navy and attended initial training in Newport, RI, and then machinist school in the Great Lakes, ILL.  Now designated as a Machinist Mate 2nd Class, his orders sent him by way of a Dutch freighter to Brisbane Australia to serve aboard the destroyer USS Selfridge DD-357.  The ship operated from New Caledonia to the Solomans. Off the Solomans during the battle of Villa Lavella, the Selfridge’s bow was blown off by Japanese torpedoes. After a 3 month trip back to San Francisco for repairs, she rejoined the Pacific Theatre and participated in the invasion of the Philippines, Saipan, and Guam. Post war, Ray was honorably discharged December 15, 1945, Machinist Mate 1C(T). Subsequently, he earned an assistant engineering license and served in the Merchant Marine for 3 years. Afterwards, Ray spent 29 years as a postal carrier for Bethpage Post Office in NY....Ray has 8 children, 26 grandchildren, and 29 great grandchildren."