Honoring a Fallen Red Raider

The Texas Tech family lost a modern day hero on Nov. 27, 2006.

ALUMNI

Ed Whitacre

The Texas Tech family lost a modern day hero Nov. 27. Maj. Troy “Trojan” L. Gilbert, 34, was the pilot of an Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon that crashed while engaged in support of coalition ground combat operations roughly 20 miles northwest of Baghdad, Iraq, in the Anbar province. The Department of Defense has listed him as killed in action.

Gilbert graduated from Texas Tech in 1993, with a degree in economics. He was commissioned in August 1994, following graduation from Officer Training School as a distinguished graduate. He graduated from Squadron Officers School at Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in 2002.

All Techsans are familiar with, “Strive For Honor,” in line seven of the Matador Song. Many of us use it as a basis for everything we try and accomplish in life. Major Troy L. Gilbert was a shining example of striving for honor.

"Troy was first and foremost a wonderful husband and father," Gilbert's family said in a news release issued through the military. "His Christian faith, personal values and work ethic guided his personal life and his career as a military officer."

“The way I remember Maj. Gilbert is with kindness for others and always with a huge smile on his face,” said friend Deborah Bowe. “Surely, Troy will be missed and I pray for Ginger and the five children. I am an Air Force wife, my husband will deploy to Baghdad in March 07 for the whole year. I am sure that Maj. Gilbert will look down from heaven to all he loved the most...his family and his country.”

Memorial Fund Contributions

A memorial fund has been established for those wishing to make a financial contribution toward the support of Troy's wife and children under the title of Gilbert Family Memorial Fund. Contributions to the fund are tax deductible and may be made in one of the following ways:

Contributions may be made in person at any Credit Union West branch. For the location of the branch nearest you, please visit the Credit Union West website http://www.cuwest.org/hours_locations.html.

Contributions may also be made by mailing a check to the following address:

Fighter Country Partnership
500 North Estrella Parkway
Suite B/2 PMB#479
Goodyear, AZ 85338

Checks should be made out to "GILBERT FAMILY"

Contributions may be made via electronic transfer with this information:

Account Name: Fighter Country Foundation Inc
Account Number: 181290-10
Bank Name: Credit Union West
Routing Number: 322172153
Special Instructions: Gilbert Family Fund

Ask the bank to waive the transfer fee based on the circumstances.

Air Warrior Courage Foundation College

Separate college funds for each of Troy's children have also been established by the River Rats through the Air Warrior Courage Foundation. The River Rats have graciously contributed $10,000 to establish the accounts. Contributions are tax deductible and may be made by mailing a check to the following address:

Air Warrior Courage Foundation
P.O. Box 132410
Tyler, TX 75713-2410
Please make check out to "AWCF" and indicate "Gilbert Scholarship Fund" in the memo line of your check.

Assignments

Feb. 1995 – Oct. 1997, chief of customer support, protocol officer, and  squadron section commander, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, then Laughlin AFB, Texas

Oct. 1997 – Oct. 1998, protocol officer, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.

Oct. 1998 – June 2000, student, Euro NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, 82nd Flying Training Wing, Sheppard AFB, Texas

June 2000 – Jan. 2001, student, F-16 Replacement Training Unit, 63rd Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.

Jan. 2001 – Jan. 2003, F-16 pilot, flight commander, chief of squadron  scheduling, chief of squadron training, 555th Fighter Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy

Jan. 2001 – Jan. 2003, F-16 pilot, flight commander, chief of squadron scheduling, chief of squadron training, 555th Fighter Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy

Major Awards and Decorations
  • Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor (Posthumous)
  • Purple Heart (Posthumous)
  • Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
  • Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster
  • Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
  • Air Force Achievement Medal
  • Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
  • Combat Readiness Medal
  • National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star
  • Kosovo Campaign Medal
  • Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
  • Global War On Terrorism Service Medal
  • Air Force Overseas Ribbon Long
  • Air Force Longevity Service with two oak leaf clusters
  • Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Pistol)
  • Air Force Training Ribbon
  • NATO Medal

 

 

Jan 15, 2020