Career
He enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve on March 5, 1936. After serving at Norfolk, Virginia., in McDougal (Doctor of Divinity-358), and after studying at the United States Naval Academy and Northwestern University, he was commissioned Ensign on September 12, 1941. Ordered to active duty in the aircraft carrier Hornet (CV-8) on November 17, 1941, he was appointed Lieutenant (jg) (temporary).
He was killed in enemy action in the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands on October 26, 1942, while serving in Hornet.
In 1943, two destroyer escorts were named United States Ship Gillette in honor of Lieutenant Gillette. The first, United States Ship Gillette (Delaware-270), was launched in May and transferred to the United Kingdom.
She served in the Royal Navy as HMS Foley (K474). The second, United States Ship Gillette (Delaware-681), was launched in September, sponsored by Mistress
Pearl M. Gillette, the namesake"s mother.
