More detail on this person: Clarence Nelson "Cal" Gatewood CW4 Clarence "Cal" N. Gatewood entered the U.S. Army in 1947 as a paratrooper, and later became the Navajo Nation's first helicopter pilot. He flew the CH-37 Mojave at Holloman Air Force Base, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico from 1962 - 1964. Other helicopters he mastered were the Bell 47 (H-13), H-19, and H-34. Cal served in several overseas locations including Korea as a helicopter pilot. He served in Vietnam with A/228 ASHB 1 CAV in 66-67, 355 HHC in 1970-1971. His call sign in Vietnam was "WORKHORSE". Flight Class 58-9. He served two tours in Vietnam flying the CH-47 Chinook on his first tour and the CH-54-B Skycrane on his second tour. On his first tour Cal was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for a night rescue of 14 Air Force personnel whose plane had crashed into the side of a mountain. Cal was a Master Army Aviator, Master Parachutist, and received many awards. He was also stationed as a U.S. Army helicopter pilot at Ft. Rucker, Alabama, Illeshiem and Hanua Army Bases, Germany, Ft. Eustis, VA., and Ft Wainwright, Alaska before he retired. Cal attended the Ganado Presbyterian mission school where he met his future wife, Esther Candelaria, who was attending Nurse's Training School. They were married on June 14, 1951 at the Second Presbyterian Church by her father Rev. J.I. Candelaria.
Burial information: Sunset Memorial Park, Albuquerque, NM
This information was last updated 05/22/2018
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Date posted on this site: 10/23/2024
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