Excerpts from the USS Pyro Guest bookRaymond P. Gillman, Chief Radarman, died last night, June 11, 2006 of complications of cancer. He had just turned 69 on March 23. He was first sworn in on 11 May 1954 and retired 31 July 1973. He made Chief 16 November 1963, 4 days prior to reporting aboard Pyro. Over half his Navy career was as a Chief. He was aboard the USS Pyro from 11/63 TO 7/66. He was my chief of opeartions when I was an ET. And we were reunited in 2000 when I first engaged detective agencies to locate some of my lost shipmates. He became active in the USS Pyro Association, and he was a cofounder of the Pyro website and spent many years locating lost shipmates with me. He was a wonderful, warm, generous man--if he liked you. I loved him and will miss him terribly. Betty, his beloved wife, loved him deeply. May he rest in peace, and may he be logged into the Rainbow Bridge until I can again see him. His memorial on our website will not be able to say enough about him. My brother, Jimmy Smiley, wrote him a song and he got to listen to it before he died. Jimmy called it "Gillman's Sail". I called it "Ray's Song." He was brave until the end. America lost a brave and loyal sailor. Goodbye Ray, my good friend and shipmate, and rest in peace. You deserve the best. Your Loving Friend 1962 to 1964 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To Betty and family, my prayers are with you and i know that ray will be missed by the whole pyro assoc i had the previlige of talkin to him at one reunion and on this website. he helped me find some old shipmates and gave mer aloty of encouragement whem i needed it. as a former radioman i can appreicate hi navy service as a radarman. fair winds and following seas to ray as visits with the number one sailor of all. god bless and keep you all. rm1 bobby r hunter 1979-1982 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ray Gillman, I have been reading the editorials written by our shipmates. They are what you deserve to hear and have said about you. I'm proud to have been among those who loved you. Happy Father's Day. 62-64 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mary & I were watching TV one evening a few years ago when the phone rang. She answered & got a puzzled look then handed me the phone. The voice on the other end asked, if I was the James P Williams that was aboard the USS PYRO in 1962-63. I said that I was, and he introduced himself as retired Chief Radarman Raymond Gillman. That night I will never forget. Mary and I met Betty & Raymond in New Orleans & we were truly impressed. Betty, Mary & I send you our deepest sympathy to you and your family. Pat and Mary Williams -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Shipmates of Ray Gillman, We have known Betty for 45 years & had the honor of meeting Ray a few years ago. Due to living in MO, we did not get to see them often but our time together was great. The tributes you have written show what a good person he was & how highly he was regarded by his friends. Our deepest sympathy to Betty & Ray's family Take care & God Bless. Sandra & Bob Harsy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ray, I am so glad we had a chance to talk there near the end...as I told you then, I will never forget you and never stop loving you. You were my Chief and turned a punk into a man. Soon we will be together again navaigating thru a much bigger and smoother sea of happiness. We and the old gal (PYRO) will know happiness forever. May the peace and comfort of God hold you till we can be together again. I salute you as the best damn sailor I have ever known. Luv Ya, Chief. May the Lord's peace be with Betty during these trying times and may she find happiness in the knowledge that all your sailings will be smooth from now on. Lonnie, RD2 '63-'65 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My heart aches for you Betty, Rags left so quickly. He left many funny moments with me, arguing politics, sharing books and he was so generous in mailing me so many great ones to read. I would like to share a small poem with you that helped me through some painful time in losing a loved one. "THAT WHICH WE LOSE WE MOURN, BUT MUST REJOICE THAT WE HAVE EVER HAD." In sincerest sympathy, Ellie Fricke, 6/13/2006 Ellie Fricke -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I would like to thank all of Chief Gillman's friends and shipmates for their kind thoughts and comments. I was very fortunate to have been able to spend his last few days with him. He genuinely felt that he lived his life to its fullest and had no regrets. I loved him deeply and will miss him dearly. Thanks, again. Ray Jr. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To all my Pyro family: Thank you for your prayers and phone calls. Your tributes to Ray on the guest book mean a lot also. I have wonderful memories of my time with Ray and all the good times with our Pyro family. God bless you all. Betty Gillman -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We will miss Chief Ray's help with the website, he was instrumental in getting it up and running and was invaluable with all the help locating folks. His passing will leave a hollow spot in our hearts. (This is really hard because I hate losing friends it took so long to find out they were there) 67-68 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am Ray Gillman's stepson, Betty's Son, I want to thank everyone for there very kind words & thoughts at this time. I truly regret not getting to spend some personal time with Ray, we only talk on the phone & by e-mail as I live in California. I know my mother enjoyed spending time with all of rays shipmates & friends. Thanks to everyone Mike -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ray Gillman will truly be missed beyond measure by me and so many others that he has touched the lives of. My life has been enriched by having known Ray. I was one of the sailors that Ray located for the USS Pyro Association. We had become good friends over the past few years. Bailey George -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Just wanted everyone to know that the chief was someone very special to us. He found Art and then got Art's buddies together. Just found one that was with him on Midway Island. Thanks to the Chief. If someone had someone that you wanted to find all you had to do was tell the Chief and he more then likely found them. Betty (Chief's wife) put up with all the hours he spent doing these thing's for people he liked. She is a very special person also. Like Smiley said they are both very special people. And Betty will always be a part of my family. Do not forget her in her time of need. Millie -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regarding Ray Gillman: Ray was our staunchest recruiter, and holds that record with the USS Pyro Association. For those of you that would like to see the many shipmates who thanked Chief Radarman Gillman for locating them, check into the "View Archives" above from the start. I have hanging on my wall one of the three precious plaques with the USS Pyro logo that Ray painstakingly made by hand. And he autographed for me. I will cherish it always. 62-64 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The song is Ray Gillman's Songby Jim Smiley (www.jimsmiley.net) |
