CDR Gillen as Captain of the USS Constitution

CDR Gillen as Captian of the USS Constitution

Then-Massachusetts Department Commander, CDR Robert Gillen, USN (Ret), at the Veterans Day Memorial Ceremony in the Hall of
Flags at the Massachusetts State House. The photo appeared in the Boston Herald newspaper on 12 November 2014. Submitted by LTC
Dennis Christo, USA (Ret), and published in The Officer Review, December 2014.

Then-Massachusetts Department Commander, CDR Robert Gillen, USN (Ret), at the Veterans Day Memorial 

Massachusetts National Cemetery

Boston English High School

On June, 2022, the City of Boston celebrated Robert Gillen Day. Although his name may not be familiar, if any alumnus personified the English High School motto — ‘Honor… Achievement… Service to Mankind’– it was Robert “Bob” Gillen who, at age 17 after four years at EHS, enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1951.  His exceptional career helped him to ultimately earn the prestigious position of 59th Commander of the USS Constitution.

A Long and Impressive Navy Career
After basic training at Newport, RI, Bob received additional training at San Diego after which he became a cryptologic technician.  For 10 years he served with the Naval Security Group in the U. S., Morocco and Germany, and rose to chief cryptologic technician by 1961.

Bob was selected for commissioning as a special duty officer in cryptology which led him to tours in the Philippines, Washington, Alaska, and Spain. As a lieutenant commander, he was on the staff of the Second Fleet from 1972 to 1975 and the Atlantic Fleet from 1975 to 1978. Bob pioneered in the development of operations and signal security that provided tactical commanders with greatly enhanced electronic warfare capability.

Protecting A National Treasure
Bob’s assignment to the USS Constitution was the result of a special arrangement since special duty officers are not normally placed in such positions. During his command tour, he paid particular attention to the development of systematic maintenance procedures that resulted in economies of both effort and funds. He produced a study that resulted in the establishment of a support activity to oversee and coordinate national and international ship visits.

On one turnaround cruise, he hosted Leverett Saltonstall, former Senator and Governor of Massachusetts. More than two decades earlier, Senator Saltonstall had helped pass Congressional legislation that ensured the ship’s continued existence in the U.S. Navy. In 1980, Bob and the Constitution led the Tall Ships parade into Boston. Gillen retired from the Navy in 1980.

A Man of Honor and Achievement
In retirement after a 30-year Navy career, Bob became naval science instructor and head of a Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) unit at a Boston high school. He remained involved with the Constitution, maintained connections with fellow former commanding officers, and was involved with activities surrounding the ship’s 200th anniversary in 1997. He died in 2018.

One of Bob’s friends, Lieutenant Colonel (retired) David Bennett, Senior Army Instructor at English High’s Army JROTC, shares a personal story “because it shows what a great man, he was in helping people outside of his immediate vicinity.”  Bennett recalls, “Bob was always helping others. For 10 years, I saw him at the Constitution Inn Luncheons with my JROTC cadets. We shared stories about our support and volunteer work with the Boy Scouts. I tried on my own to schedule a Scout troop sleepover on the ship but to no avail. “At a JROTC Awards Luncheon, I shared with him my difficulty in getting any response from the Navy. He promised to ‘make a call.’ The next day I got a call at EHS from the ship’s Lt. Commander approving the sleepover. If you know anything about the Navy and how ‘top-down’ their culture is, you can appreciate the power and influence Bob had. He didn’t have to do that. It had no connection to English High or JROTC, but it was a lifetime experience for the Scouts they will never forget. It was a great example of doing a ‘good turn’ for someone (Scouting term) that nobody knows about. That simple act shows what a great man Bob Gillen was.”



Credit to the English High School Alumni 
https://englishhighalumni.org/2022/06/14/ehs-alum-robert-gillen-served-as-59th-commander-of-the-uss-constitution/#:~:text=In%20case%20you,Charlestown%20Navy%20Yard.


 DEDICATION OF THE CDR Robert L. Gillen, USN
Region I Historical Display Case Submittd by 
CAPT HARRY H H. WEINBERG, SC, USN (RET)
FORMER REGION I AND GREATER BOSTON CHAPTER COMMANDER
The case was to be dedicated in memory of CDR Robert L. Gillen, USN, who served as Commander of Region I, Department of Massachusetts and both the Greater Boston and Cape Cod Chapters. Bob’s dedication to MOWW served as inspiration for so many to step up and serve the Order. He was the finest example of the Order’s motto “It is nobler to serve than be served.” The dedication ceremony was held in the Massachusetts National Guard Joint Force Headquarters on 27 April 2022, and was a special occasion for our New England Companions. Region I Commander, COL Larry Willwerth, USA (Ret), whose tireless work brought the project to completion, was master of ceremonies and delivered appropriate opening remarks. Companion Maj Gen Gary Keefe, USAF, MA ANG, gave the opening address, and Companion Lt Gen Scott L. Rice, USAF (Ret), former Director of the Air National Guard, reminded us of our role in fostering companionship and reaching out to
veterans and America’s youth. LTC Fred Maguire, USA (Ret), and CAPT Harry H. Weinberg, SC, USN (Ret), offered remembrances of Bob Gillen. We were honored to have Bob Gillen’s brother, his sister and his niece in attendance. A note of sadness marred the day when Bob’s son CDR Bob Gillen, Jr., USN (Ret), was called away because of a health crisis affecting his mother, Bob’s widow Paula, who passed away that very day. In addition to Bob’s family, Maj Gen Keefe and Lt Gen Rice, guests included BG John Driscoll, USA, Commander of the Land Forces component of the Massachusetts National Guard; MOWW VCINC CAPT Ed Gantt, USN (Ret); Companion CAPT Mary Jo Majors, NC, USN (Ret), who is also President of the Wardroom Club of Boston; COL Raul Alcala, USA (Ret), Commander of Greater Boston Chapter; LTC David Anderson, USA (Ret), Commander of the Worcester Chapter; COL James Wiegel; Companion and former Tuskegee Airman LTC Enoch Woodhouse, USAF (Ret); LTC Dennis Christo, USA (Ret), former Region I Commander, a driving force behind this project, and CPT William Maloney, USA, (Fmr), who led many of us into the world of virtual connections during the pandemic were also among those present. Closing the ceremony, COL Willwerth presented bouquets to Bob’s sister and niece. In remembering our Order’s origins in 1919, we think our founding members would note some differences, but many of the principles dedicated to preserving and protecting our Union remain unchanged. Our original Companions supported the nation and its constitutional democracy then, as we do today. We still oppose anarchy and methods of societal change that involve violence
because they result in chaos and disorder. We are firm in our concentration on patriotic youth education, and we still urge our citizens to appreciate the many remarkable features of our national life. 




Commander Robert L. ‘Bob’ Gillen passed away on July 6 1018 at the age of 85, and the life-long Townie and retired U.S. Navyman was laid to rest in a grand procession and funeral Mass on Wednesday morning, July 11.


Commander Robert Gillen.

Commander Gillen was remembered by many lately for his extreme service to his community, helping to coordinate the Battle of Bunker Hill Day Parade, the Old Charlestown Schoolboys Association and many other voluntary endeavors. He was also remember by many in the Navy for a career that was as stunning as it was surprising to those close to him here that did not know the extent of his service.

His brother, Moe Gillen, spoke for the family in saying that their brother would be dearly missed.

“He was my partner in all the things we did, and he will be sorely missed,” said Moe. “He was a great big brother and he was very soft spoken and unassuming despite all of the things he accomplished in Charlestown and around the world in the Navy.”

Commander Gillen’s final assignment in the Navy was as the 59th Commander of the USS Constitution in the Navy Yard – the only Charlestown sailor to command the ship.

Arthur Hurley, who was a long-time friend of Gillen’s through the many organizations in the Town, said he would miss him greatly.

“More than anything, he served his country well and his community,” said Hurley. “He and I were partners in crime from planning the Parade to the June 17, Monument activities with the Bunker Hill Monument Association. He’s sorely missed. He really will be missed here.”

Commander Gillen left home in 1950 at the age of 17 to join the Navy, much like his late brother, Francis, left Charlestown at an early age to join the priesthood – also serving overseas in the Philippines. Commander Gillen, like his late brother, never forgot his roots though.

His service in the Navy was a list of amazing accomplishments that many of his closest friends in Charlestown weren’t aware of.

He quickly rose to Chief Petty Officer and in 1962 got a commission as an Ensign, special duty cryptologist.

He served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

He served on a wide variety of surface airbourne platforms in the Pacific, Atlantic and Mediterranean, as well as with the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade in Danang, Vietnam where he earned the Fleet Marine Force Combat Insignia. He served in other areas such as Morocco, Germany, Philippines, Winter Harbor, ME, Adak, Alaska, Spain and also with the National Security Agency (NSA).

In the Navy, the was known as the pioneer in developing operations security, signal security and special planning techniques that provided tactical commanders with greatly enhanced electronic warfare capabilities.

That led him to author many papers on electronic warfare, and he produced training books for the U.S. and NATO forces.

Later, his extensive knowledge of Naval Security group acquisition systems and familiarity with special communications requirements resulted in his being assigned to the staff of Commander Second Fleet and then to the Commander in Chief Atlantic Fleet’s staff. There, in 1978, he was DEP selected to the rank of Commander.

For his last active duty assignment, though, was not with the Naval Security Group once again, but rather back home in Charlestown. He was assigned as the 59th Commander of the USS Constitution in the Navy Yard. Shortly after, he retired from the Navy and became the head of the Naval Science program NJROTC at West Roxbury High School.

On the side, he also remained active in special intelligence and electronic warfare as the owner of a consulting firm.

His activities in Charlestown were numerous, from the Bunker Hill Monument Association to the Constitution Museum Board to the Old Charlestown Schoolboys Association. He was also on the American Legion Bunker Hill Post #26, the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts, Charlestown Historical Society and the Kennedy Memorial Post #5880 VFW.

That’s to name a few.

Gillen, however, was well-regarded in the Town for his ability to tell a great story, from the story about how he met and courted his wife, Eileen ‘Paula’, to the stories of how he

Those were the stories he could tell about his life, and they were often shared over a “covert” lunch or Sunday supper at the Mt. Vernon Restaurant – where he was addressed as ‘Commander’ and he rarely had to order. They usually knew what he wanted to eat.

At his funeral on Wednesday, the funeral party entered as the choir sang ‘Amazing Grace.’ Just as they finished, the bells at St. Francis tolled for the 11 a.m. hour.

Father Daniel Mahoney conducted the service, with Gillen’s son, Commander Robert L. Gillen Jr., giving the remembrances of his decorated father.

Father Mahoney concluded his remarks by saying all were fortunate to have known Commander Gillen.

“Yes, today there is sadness and sometimes even anger, but beyond all of that is love – love that God has for his family and a love that Bob had for the US Navy,” said Mahoney. “Every one of you in the Navy here today can be proud to know he was one of you and you were one of him. With no headlines, no TV reports, no breaking news, Bob lived out his life with that love…We were fortunate to have known him…There is an age-old Navy saying that is ‘To fair winds and following seas.’ The fair winds and following seas are now Bob’s for eternity.”

Commander Gillen is the beloved husband of 61 years to his wife, Eileen ‘Paula’ (Foran) Gillen – born in Dublin. He is the devoted father of Commander Robert Gillen Jr. (retired) and his wife, Kathy, and Eileen Dannemiller and her husband, John. He is the loving grandpa to Tara, Samantha, Lt. John Dannemiller USN, Robert and Steven.

He is the beloved brother of Irene ‘Renee’ Moffatt, Maurice ‘Moe’ Gillen and the late Brother Francis ‘George’ Gillen and Barbara Salvador.

He was buried in Bourne National Cemetery.
Article by Seth Daniel • July 14, 2018 Charlestown Patriot-Bridge

ROBERT L GILLEN

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