Mr. John Gilbert, USN, gained the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as a diver during the rescue and salvage operations following the sinking of the U.S. submarine Squalus on 23 May 1939. His courage and devotion to duty in making repeated dangerous dives during the most difficult diving conditions characterized conduct far and beyond the call of duty.

Mr. Gilbert joined the L.O.V. in 1978 and resided in North Carolina.