Gordon Alan Collipriest
The Montpelier News-Examiner 4 Oct 1945
FLYER KILLED IN COUNTRY'S SERVICE
Mrs. Ruth Collipriest of New York City, formerly of Montpelier and Salt Lake City has received the following letter regarding her son, Ensign Gordon Alan Collipriest, previously reported missing. Department of the Navy Bureau of Medicine & Surgery:
"Dear Mrs. Collipriest, You have been notified by the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Navy Department of the death of your son, Ensign Gordon Alan Collipriest, US Naval Reserve on March 30, 1945, in the performance of his duty and in the service of his country. According to information which has come to this Bureau, burial has been made in the Seventh Division Cemetery No 1, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands. Sincerely yours, Ross T McIntire, Vice Admiral Surgeon General Navy"
Ensign Collipriest, 21, was born in Montpelier January 25, 1924, the son of the late Harry G Collipriest and Mrs. Ruth Dalrymple Collipriest. He graduated from high school in Salt Lake City, attended the University of Utah and Millard's Preparatory School in Washington DC. He enlisted in the Navy in 1943 and received training at St. Mary's College, California at at Pensacola, Florida, where he received his wings. He went to the South Pacific in the fall of 1944.
Besides his mother and one brother, Cpl. Harold Collipriest at present stationed in Manila, Philippine Islands, the young flyer is survived by his grandmothers, Mrs. Henry Collipriest of Montpelier and Mrs. Henry Dalrymple of Salt Lake City.