Saturday, July 21, 2007

Posted by: Michael F Parker Sperry(parker_sperry@yahoo.com''2006111515501811)
Friday, July 21, 2006at 08:13:53

Subject: On the Anniversary
It was 5:30am today, I had 30 more pages to read in Rich Merritt book, I was so shocked and sadded to learn in the last few pages of the book, that Rich's best friend had passed away. I (like Rich) shed actually a few tears after reading so much about this obviously terrific individaul that played such an important role in developing the man that Rich Merritt is today. I futher was saddened, that TODAY is the 2nd anniversary of the death of Gary - Once again, a tear came to my eye when I learned that thru this website. I don't know what compelled me to go searching for a garyfullerton website, but something made me do it... probably a SIGN like so many signs that had been revealed to Rich. I am so sorry for everyones loss and feel your pain today. God Bless you All... as he Does!

3 comments:

Patrick Gallagher said...

I was just talking to an old Marine Corps buddy and I got to wondering how other friends from my days in the Corps were doing. I did search on Gary and was shocked and saddened to read about his death.

Gary was my roommate at the Basic School. He was a great friend and motivator. I was introduced to his family during our training in Quantico when he and I took a trip to Spartanburg. His father and brother (I don’t remember which brother) made sure we felt at home when we were awoken with a live rendition of Revelry. I regret loosing touch with Gary over the many years and feel for his family.

I last saw Gary at Camp Pendleton when he came to visit his friend Rich Merritt, then serving at 3d LAAD Battalion. He was now an official aviator in the United States Marine Corp. I’m glad he was able to fulfill his dream. You couldn’t help but feel good for him and I knew the Marine Corps got a good man to fly fighters for them.

God bless and Semper Fidelis Gary. Thank you for being a friend.

Patrick Gallagher
Captain, USMC

Lynda Gibson (Stoddart) said...

Thinking of you and your mum on this your anniversary.

Family, divided by water but united in Grief, we met but for a brief moment in time, long enough that your memory is etched in our hearts so short that we are deeply saddened never to know you better.

May your light continue to shine in all who were honoured to know you, with Love from your family in Scotland

xx

Brian Harrelson said...

Like Parker years ago, I'm not sure what made me search for Gary on the net either. I see him most every day as he was in my wedding and the picture sits in my living room, right next to the picture of he and I (along with another lost flyer Jason Baer) immediately after our first carrier qualification in Pensacola, FL.

In my search I came across a video presentation of Gary and his life. I realized that there was still so much I didn't know about Gary. He was my best friend in Primary, roommate in T-2s and next door neighbor in TA-4s. We were ACM partners and flew our last few flights together in the training command. The video brought back more fond memories as it showed some pictures from our winging ceremony. I wish I could have shared some of the pictures I still hold dear of my friend.

I didn't get to see him as often as I would have liked in the last years. We shared some time together while we were both in Fallon for some training. He was west coast, I was east coast. A world apart in the Corps, but I've never forgotten him and still share stories of him often. I was deployed to Iraq when I got word of his mishap and was not able to personally say my goodbyes. He is never far from my mind which is why I was thinking of him this summer morning in July of 2012, years after his passing; his effects on my life are everlasting.

Brian 'Woody/Gump' Harrelson
Major, USMC (Ret.)