Joseph Gibbons:  

Here is a little about me after graduating from Wilkinsburg High School in 1958. I attended University of Tulsa on a track scholarship graduating with a Bachelor of Arts. The University of Tulsa track team of 1961-62 was recognized in October, 2012 at the Homecoming football game for winning the Missouri Valley track championship two consecutive years. I was a co-captain the '61 team and ran the mile, half-mile and was part of the mile relay team. The performance of this track team has been ranked as one of the top ten accomplishments of the Tulsa University athletic teams. After college graduation, I attended U.S. Navy Officer Candidate School, Newport, RI. and was commissioned as an Ensign on November 22, 1963 (the tragic day President JFK was assassinated). During the Vietnam War I served onboard aircraft carriers and a destroyer as a communications officer before converting to a naval cryptologist supporting the National Security Agency. I achieved certification as Officer of the Deck (driving the ship) and Command Duty Officer (in charge during the commanding officer'™s absence). I was involved in the historic Gulf of Tonkin episode in addition to seeing combat action off the coast of North Vietnam. My ship, the destroyer USS Turner Joy (DD 951), was hit by North Vietnamese shore guns on several occasions suffering damage to various parts of the ship, but luckily no loss of lives. I was awarded numerous commendations and medals, including the Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cr...Expand for more