ROESLER GILBERT E

Gilbert E. Roesler was a potential VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 03/25/2010 at the age of 72.7 from Cancer
Dumfries, VA
Date of Birth 07/09/1937
Served in the U.S. Army
This information was provided by SSN search Sep 2010

More detail on this person: Gilbert Eugene Roesler Services: 04/09/2010. Gilbert Eugene Roesler passed away on Thursday, March 25, 2010,in Bluffton, due to complications from his courageous battle with cancer. Gil Roesler was born July 1937 at Deadwood, S.D., to George and Mildred (Schumann) Roesler and grew up in Lead, S.D. An exceptional scholar, athlete and artist, he attended Lead High School, where he lettered in 11 sports to include football, basketball and track. He accepted a congressional appointment to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., where he excelled in all areas, earning numerals his Plebe year in football, track and basketball, lettering the next three years in football and track, was elected Captain of the track team in 1958-59, and played left halfback on the undefeated USMA '58 football team. Upon graduation Gil branched Infantry and following Branch, Airborne and Ranger Schools. He married his high school sweetheart, Ina Seppala, before attending Flight School in Fort Rucker, Ala. He was stationed in Kittzigen and Aschaffenberg, Germany (3rd ID), then Fort Benning, Ga., (for the 11th AA Div tests) and ferried Caribou units to Vietnam. He crossed the Atlantic Ocean once and the Pacific three times - one of the few aviators who have circumnavigated the globe.He deployed with the 134th Aviation Company to Vietnam, where he was injured in a Caribou accident and medically evacuated to Japan.Following his recovery he was assigned to the 5th Infantry in Fort Carson, Colo., then attended the Rotary Wing Qualification Course before returning to Vietnam with the 1st ID to support the defense of Saigon during the Tet Offensive. He graduated from CGSC and the University of Alabama (with an MS in Aerospace Engineering) and served on the Aviation Test Board at Fort Rucker, then was assigned to the Pentagon as Systems Coordinator for the TOW Anti-Armor System and as the Missile Procurement Team Chief.Prior to retirement he graduated from the Defense Systems Management College and served his final assignment at the Operation Test and Evaluation Agency. Throughout his career he flew over 3,600 hours, including 1,500 combat hours, and his awards include Master Army Aviator, Ranger, Airborne, EIB, Army Staff Badge, ARCOM (2 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (25 awards), Bronze Star, Distinguished Flying Cross (3 OLC) and the Legion of Merit. Following military retirement to Dumfries, Va., Gil began a 20-year civilian career with a Services company in Crystal City, providing program management, financial and engineering support to the Naval Space and Warfare Systems Command and Naval Warfare Systems Command. During this time his sons, Steven and Scott, followed in his footsteps to attend the Military Academy, Branching Infantry and Engineers respectively. Gil was very active in Grace Lutheran Church where he taught Sunday school and was Congregational President. Following his second retirement from the civilian sector, Gil and Ina moved to Bluffton to enjoy golf and visiting family and were active in the Lord of Life Lutheran Church. Gil is survived by his wife, Ina; twin sons, Steven and family of Novato, Calif., and Scott of Greenville, S.C.; five grandchildren, Eliza, Zachary, Nathaniel, Ryan and Bethany; and brothers, Bob and family of Rapid City, S.D., and Paul and family of Scottsdale, Ariz. Gil will be interred, with military honors at 2 p.m. Friday, April 9, at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, S.D.

Burial information: Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, SD

This information was last updated 04/28/2020

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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024


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