THE WALL OF FACES

First Lieutenant Joseph Gambino Jr., Served with the 23rd Tactical Air Support Squadron, 56th Special Operations Wing, 7th Air Force.

Joe and I were classmates in the Class of 65. He was a center/linebacker on our class football team. A really good guy and friend. I miss him. He was remembered at our 50th reunion in 2015. I visit the Memorial any time I'm in DC. Drawn there.

1LT Joseph Gambino Jr. was a Rustic Forward Air Controller assigned to the 23rd Tactical Air Support Squadron at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB Thailand. On April 7, 1973, he was operating out of Ubon Air Base Thailand in an OV-10A (#67-14659) near Trapeang Veng, 50 miles northwest of Kampong Cham in Cambodia. 1LT Gambino was directing a strike on mortar positions when his aircraft was struck by .50 caliber gunfire from Khmer Rouge soldiers and crashed in flames. 1LT Gambino had served 209 days in combat. His body was recovered. [Taken from fac-assoc.org]

Joe and I were UPT students in USAF UPT, Class 71-08 at Webb AFB, Texas, and we became the best of friends. His love of life and quick smile, along with many Friday and Saturday nights at the O club with him and our buddies are some of my favorite memories from pilot training. The war which took his young life was far away and seldom thought of while in training. He was a great friend, and I still miss his friendship after 45 years. May he Rest In Pease.

Joe and I were Counselors in Training and Junior Counselors together at Camp Brooklyn (PaupacK, PA). He was a great, lively, easy-going guy. All of us really liked him--and I am so sad to see that he died on his birthday. I cried when I stood at the wall for my first time in the 1980s when I realized this. If any of his family members ever read this, please know that I and his buddies at Camp Brooklyn share your grief. I hope you are all well.