More detail on this person: Norman R. "Bud"
Gill peacefully passed away in his sleep on
January 15, 2014, at his home in Montgomery,
Alabama, at the age of 79 years after a lengthy
and valiant fight with Parkinson's Disease. He was
born December 9, 1934, in Lansing, Michigan. He
attended Sexton High School in Lansing where he
excelled both academically and athletically and
was a State of Michigan High School wrestling
champion. He graduated from Michigan State
University in 1957, where he majored in electrical
engineering and competed in Big Ten wrestling. He
then received his commission as an officer in the
United States Army where he pursued a career in
Army Aviation. He served his country as a medevac
officer in the early 1960's in Germany during the
Berlin Crisis, served two tours in Vietnam
including his first tour as an air assault pilot
with the 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion of the
First Cavalry Division (Air Mobile) in 1965-66
where he was involved in numerous battles
including Ia Drang, LZ Xray and LZ Albany in
addition to many other campaigns in the Central
Highlands fought by The Cav in 1965-66. In 1969-70
he served with AVEL Far North at Red Beach, Da
Nang. He was awarded many commendations and
medals for gallantry in action including the
Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal,
numerous Air Medals with numerous Oak Leaf
Clusters and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. When
not in Vietnam, he served as an instructor pilot
at Fort Rucker, Alabama, training helicopter
pilots in advanced air assault tactics. He retired
as a Lt. Col. in 1976 in Enterprise, Alabama. He
spent nearly 25 additional years on the civilian
side of Army Aviation at Fort Rucker before
retiring in 2000 to Montgomery, Alabama. He and
his wife Sue consider Enterprise, Alabama, their
home where they were members of Christ the King
Lutheran Church since 1960.
Gill was preceded in death by his parents, William
A. Gill and Vernice (Otto) Gill of Lansing,
Michigan. Gill is survived by his beloved wife of
53 years, Susan H. (Miller) Gill of Montgomery,
Alabama (originally from Lansing, Michigan); his
son, Jeffrey L. Gill (wife Cheryl) of Lakewood,
Washington; son Gregory William Gill of
Montgomery, Alabama; son Brian P. Gill (wife
Michelle) of Pemberton, New Jersey, and daughter
Jennifer K. (Gill) Arey (husband Col. (Ret) Scott
Arey) of Harker Heights, Texas. He is also
survived by many wonderful grandchildren: Amanda
Gill, Monica Gill, Jessica Gill, Kaitlin Arey,
Julia Arey, Hannah Faith Gill, Sara Grace Gill,
Jeremiah B. Gill, and Isaiah M. Gill. Gill is also
survived by his two brothers, James Gill (wife
Beverly) and Ronald Gill (wife April) of Lansing,
Michigan.
The family will receive friends at Alabama
Heritage Funeral Home, 10505 Atlanta Highway,
Montgomery, Alabama from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00
p.m. on Sunday, January 19, 2014. Funeral
services will be Monday, January 20, 2014 at 11:00
a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 4475 Atlanta
Highway, Montgomery, Alabama.
Montgomery, Alabama. Interment with Full Military
Honors will follow in Alabama Heritage Cemetery.
Online condolences may be offered at
www.alabamaheritagefh.com. Alabama Heritage
Directing.
Online condolences may be offered at
www.alabamaheritagefh.com. Alabama Heritage
Directing.
Published in the Montgomery Advertiser from Jan.
18 to Jan. 20, 2014
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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