KASTAUFFER Posted October 27, 2010 Share #1 Posted October 27, 2010 I recently acquired Ens. George Gay's dogtag from his Grandson and thought you all might like to see it. For those of you who may not know who he was, Ens. Gay was the sole survivor of the USS Hornet detatchment of Torpedo Squadron 8 during the Battle of Midway. He was a true American hero. There were 2 survivors of the VT-8 detatchment that flew from Midway Island that day. I posted a group to one of the pilots here: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...showtopic=57155 Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garandomatic Posted October 27, 2010 Share #2 Posted October 27, 2010 Man that's something. I read the name and knew I recognized it. Wonderful piece of history. A local man wasn't so lucky at Midway. He was one of the members of VB3 that crippled the Hiryu and was bounced by a pack of Zeroes afterwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dg0223 Posted October 27, 2010 Share #3 Posted October 27, 2010 Wow. That is priceless. I used to watch Midway religiously when I was younger. Come to think of it, I still do. That would definitely be something to own. Congrats on the pick-up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arclight Posted October 27, 2010 Share #4 Posted October 27, 2010 Wow, what a piece of history! I was very shocked to find his grandson at the local flea market a few months back, and since meeting him, I felt compelled to read more about this squadron and Ens. Gay. Truly an incredible piece of history for your collection! Congrats, G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted October 27, 2010 Share #5 Posted October 27, 2010 WOW!! That is history. Congratulations on a wonderful piece for your collection. :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Got da Penny Posted October 27, 2010 Share #6 Posted October 27, 2010 What a "gem". I know it has to be one of your most treasured items, out of your many historical pieces. Congrats. :twothumbup: Carey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Dentino Posted October 27, 2010 Share #7 Posted October 27, 2010 Well Kurt, congrats again on adding another one of a kind (read: rare) item to your collection. Glad it is in good hands! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris3bs Posted October 27, 2010 Share #8 Posted October 27, 2010 Nothing like history presenting itself to Ens. Gay at Midway as is to yourself. Great piece. Congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted October 27, 2010 Share #9 Posted October 27, 2010 Great find, Kurt! Congrats!!!!!!! Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cherokee tj Posted October 27, 2010 Share #10 Posted October 27, 2010 Humbling to hold a real piece of our history in your hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
67Rally Posted October 27, 2010 Share #11 Posted October 27, 2010 After Gay was picked up by the US sub, he was transferred to the USS Vincennes (CA-44) where he spent several days. I believe he left the ship when they arrived back at Pearl after the Midway battle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhunde.ret Posted October 27, 2010 Share #12 Posted October 27, 2010 Congrat's Kurt - quite the historical artifact! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disneydave Posted October 27, 2010 Share #13 Posted October 27, 2010 You never cease to amaze me. Congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason G Posted October 27, 2010 Share #14 Posted October 27, 2010 Awe inspiring sir. Just gave a 'class' on this to the family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted October 27, 2010 Share #15 Posted October 27, 2010 Wow, neat! I wonder what happened to his earlier dog tags. -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted October 27, 2010 Share #16 Posted October 27, 2010 Kurt, This dog tag to Gay is just crazy!! The more I think about it, the more amazed I am. You can tell by some of the reactions who knows the story and who doesn't. You are going to have to buy one of those small glass domes to display it under next to a copy of his book. I know we collect these KIA PH's and such, but in most cases the vet never even touches them. Here you have George Gay's dog tag. Could it be the one he wore while in the water?? Damn, what a great piece. Again, congrats on a real piece of WWII history. :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted October 27, 2010 Share #17 Posted October 27, 2010 Kurt, I know we collect these KIA PH's and such, but in most cases the vet never even touches them. Here you have George Gay's dog tag. Could it be the one he wore while in the water?? Well, considering the tetanus shot date is after his ordeal, I don't think so... -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted October 27, 2010 Share #18 Posted October 27, 2010 Well, considering the tetanus shot date is after his ordeal, I don't think so... Didn't even notice. :pinch: It would still be under a dome in a place of honor if it were mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted October 27, 2010 Share #19 Posted October 27, 2010 It would still be under a dome in a place of honor if it were mine. No doubt! -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
River Rat 1 Posted October 27, 2010 Share #20 Posted October 27, 2010 That Dog-Tag has a lot of history behind it.My Dad flew with VT-8 after the battle of Midway was a replacement and was a ball turret gunner on the avenger.He lives in Montana right now.He came down to Calif were I live took him to the USS Hornet Museum they had a Avenger that was getting fixed up they had the turret out and on the deck my Dad looked at it and said dam I can't fit in that.Some time's I wonder why family sells stuff about there family history if my dad gave me any thing it would be past down to the next generation Ens George Gay is real history that most people have read or seen movies about the Battle of Midway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted October 27, 2010 Author Share #21 Posted October 27, 2010 That Dog-Tag has a lot of history behind it.My Dad flew with VT-8 after the battle of Midway was a replacement and was a ball turret gunner on the avenger.He lives in Montana right now.He came down to Calif were I live took him to the USS Hornet Museum they had a Avenger that was getting fixed up they had the turret out and on the deck my Dad looked at it and said dam I can't fit in that.Some time's I wonder why family sells stuff about there family history if my dad gave me any thing it would be past down to the next generation Ens George Gay is real history that most people have read or seen movies about the Battle of Midway. In this case Eric ( his grandson ) and I have spoken quite a bit and the family is keeping for themselves and has also donated quite a bit of George's stuff to Museums. He knows of my interest in VT-8 and he decided sending the tag my way was a good place for it. If you get a chance to post some of your Dad's items we would love to see it here! I have a Flight Logbook to a gunner who also flew with VT-8 at Guadalcanal. VT-8 did some amazing flying there. As much as a lot of the guys in the squadron despised Swede Larsen, the man got results. He also made some questionable decisions too. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
River Rat 1 Posted October 27, 2010 Share #22 Posted October 27, 2010 In this case Eric ( his grandson ) and I have spoken quite a bit and the family is keeping for themselves and has also donated quite a bit of George's stuff to Museums. He knows of my interest in VT-8 and he decided sending the tag my way was a good place for it. If you get a chance to post some of your Dad's items we would love to see it here! I have a Flight Logbook to a gunner who also flew with VT-8 at Guadalcanal. VT-8 did some amazing flying there. As much as a lot of the guys in the squadron despised Swede Larsen, the man got results. He also made some questionable decisions too. Kurt My Dad gave me some of my Granddads stuff like the cruise book from the USS New Mexico when they went over the line in the 1920's even got three of his subpoena's that they give for going over the equator from the USS New Mexico,USS West Virginia,USS Saratoga and some photo's but I got a book by Dad gave me that some one wrote about a Squadron my Dad was with in Alaska were he was a crew member in PBY's before he transferred to the Pacific later in the War.It had a photo of my Dad in the book.He is still around and I am glad of that but he has not given me any thing yet of his from his time in the service but a lot of stories he is one of those vet's if you ask he will talk your ear off about his time in the Navy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swmdo Posted October 28, 2010 Share #23 Posted October 28, 2010 Nice, I met George and Pappy Boyington at an air show in California in the early 80's. Have his autograph around here some where. Man that should be loaned as a historical artifact to one of the big museums in DC like the Navy Museum at the Washington Navy Yard or Pensacola. :think: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
APO472 Posted October 28, 2010 Share #24 Posted October 28, 2010 A friend of mine and I had a bet as to which would be posted first… A. The “no way it can be real because it is WAY too cool and I am jealous” post or B. The ever popular “that belongs in a museum” comment. Thanks for the post swmdo I just won a case of beer. Kurt, Congrats and that phenomenal piece of history is in the perfect home and will be cherished more than if it were in ANY museum’s collection. Heck, you should wear it at least once! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ww1collector Posted October 28, 2010 Share #25 Posted October 28, 2010 Looks like it may have been in salt water once. Nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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