LTJG GERALD W. SIEBE, USN
Lucky Bag Yearbook
From the 1964 Lucky Bag:
GERALD WILLIAM SIEBE
17th Company
Jerry came to USNA from the bustling metropolis of Mascoutah, Illinois. He arrived, having successfully completed a year of study in Electrical Engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology under a regular Navy scholarship. Jerry has distinguished himself, athletically, as an outstanding Gymnast in his specialty, the side horse. His indefatigable efforts helped to earn him the position of sports editor on the “Splinter.” His intense desire to become a Naval flyer came about during the flight indoctrination program of Second Class summer. With his strong sense of integrity and responsibility, he can be expected to make a success of his aviation career.
Loss
Jerry was a pilot with Helicopter Support Squadron (HC) 1 who was killed in a major fire aboard USS Oriskany (CVA 34) on October 26, 1966.
Other Information
From the December 1966 issue of Shipmate:
Lt.(jg) Gerald W. Siebe, USN, was killed in the fire aboard USS ORISKANY in the South China Sea on 26 Oct He was serving with Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 1, based at the Naval Air Station, Ream Field, Calif., at the time of the accident.
Lt. Siebe was born in Belleville, Ill. He attended Illinois Institute of Technology before entering the Naval Academy, from where he was graduated in 1964. He completed flight training at Pensacola, and was designated a naval aviator in November 1965. He held the National Defense Service Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal.
Surviving are his widow Becky Ann of RR2 Mascoutah, Ill., and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Louis Siebe, 102 E. South, Mascoutah.
In the same issue, in the Class of 1964 column:
Among the officers and men lost in the tragic fire aboard ORISKANY on 26 Oct. was our classmate Jerry SIEBE. Jerry came to the Naval Academy after a year of NROTC and electrical engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology. At Annapolis, he became well known as the man from the 17th Company with a quick smile and a warm personality. As an “Angel” pilot aboard ORISKANY, several pilots have him to thank for being pulled from unfriendly waters. We join his parents and wife Becky of Mascoutah, Ill., in the deep regret of this tragedy.
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Gerald graduated as valedictorian from Mascoutah Community High School in 1959. He was voted Most Intelligent.
As a junior, in April 1958, he earned Straight A’s for the third quarter. In May he was named to the National Honor Society.
In his senior year in November, 1958, he was the stage manager for the senior class play “The Traveling Lady.”
In April 1959, he was selected to be in the Naval Reserve Officers Training Program in college. The program would provide the cost of tuition, books and fees, a Navy uniform, and $50 per month. He was accepted at the Illinois Institute of Technology at Chicago.
Gerald won a ten dollar check that month from the Veterans organization for his winning essay.
He qualified for admission to the U. S. Air Force Academy according to Congressman Melvin Price, and he also won a four-year free tuition and fees scholarship to the University of Illinois.
Gerald was nominated to the Naval Academy by U. S. Senator Paul H. Douglas in December, 1959.
In the summer of 1961, Gerald’s cruise was on the destroyer USS Borie.
After completing pre-flight training at Pensacola, he flew his first solo flight in the “Mentor” trainer aircraft in November 1964.
He married a high school classmate Becky Ann Hulliungon December 26, 1964, at the Holy Childhood Church in Mascoutah. She was employed by the U. S. Air Force at the Pentagon.
In December 1965, he received his designation as a Naval Aviator and Helicopter Pilot at Ellyson Field in Pensacola.
His father was Stanley, and his mother was head librarian at the public library.
Jerry has a memorial in Illinois.
Photographs
Memorials
Jerry is among those names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. As his loss was not due directly to hostile action, though, he does not appear in the Vietnam War section of the Killed In Action panel in Memorial Hall.
Related Articles
John Sweet ‘64 and James Roberts ‘64 were also in 17th Company.
Barry Hooper ‘64 was also on the Gymnastics Team.
It’s possible he knew William Lawton ‘64, who was also aboard Oriskany for the 1966 Western Pacific deployment.
Clyde Welch ‘51 was also lost in the fire.
Gerald is one of 25 members of the Class of 1964 on Virtual Memorial Hall.
