John Frederick Gately
Midshipmen, United States Naval Academy
John was born the 9th of July 1922 in Marlborough, Massachusetts, the third of four children born to Edward and Marguerite Gately. He was a 1940 graduate of the Marlborough High School and made his home with his family on 17 Devens Street. He enlisted into the United States Marine Corps the 4th of September 1940 at the Navy yard in Boston, Massachusetts.
He received basic training at Quantico, Virginia before traveling to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba aboard the USS HARRY LEE arriving the 21st of January 1941. He was assigned to Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. On the 2nd of September 1941 John was reassigned to the Guard Company at the Marine Barracks of the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. John was promoted to Private 1st Class the 24th of March 1942. While assigned to the USS REINA MERCEDES John was discharged the 20th of June 1943 to accept an appointment to the United States Naval Academy. John was only the fourth person from Marlborough to be accepted into the Naval Academy at that time.
Sadly, John died of Leukemia following a short battle with the disease the 19th of October 1943 at the Brooklyn Naval hospital. He is buried at the Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Gately Drive in Marlborough is named in his honor.
