Gary was born July 23, 1903, in Findlay, Ohio, to parents Henry and Katherine Gary, who already had seven children, three of whom had passed away before he was born. His parents had one more boy after him, but that son also died at a young age. 

Gary attended one year of high school before enlisting in the Navy on Dec. 12, 1919, when he was 16 years old. In a speech he wrote later in life, Gary said he'd always wanted to be a fireman, so he joined the service to see the world and hopefully learn some skills that could help him find a job when he returned home, according to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. 

Gary initially received training in San Francisco before being transferred to the Philippines, where he served on a gunboat and then a survey ship. He later told the Los Angeles Times that he had no plans to turn the Navy into a career, but after six years of service, he decided he liked it enough to stay, reenlisting in February 1926.  

FORT HOOD, Texas-1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division hosts a family day gunnery to showcase the Troopers’ achievements and hard work after weeks in the field on March 26 at Fort Hood, Texas.
The squadron had a variety of events for the families to observe and learn about including the static displays of armored vehicles including the M2A3 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle, M1 Abrams, and the Army’s new Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. The Bradley’s and Abrams later executed a live gunnery for everyone to enjoy.

Ms. Sarah EchoHawk (front left), American Indian Science and Engineering Society chief executive officer , signs a Memorandum of Understanding with Lt. Gen. Scott Spellmon (front right), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers commanding general. The MOU provides Native American students with formal access to Army Science, Technology, Engineering and Math job and educational opportunities. (U.S. Army photo)

WASHINGTON --

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the American Indian Science and Engineering Society signed a partnership agreement today that provides Native American students with formal access to Army Science, Technology, Engineering and Math job and educational opportunities.

The agreement, a memorandum of understanding, was signed by Lt. Gen. Scott A. Spellmon, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers commanding general; and Ms. Sarah EchoHawk, American Indian Science and Engineering Society chief executive officer.

“By signing this memorandum of understanding, we are literally opening the doors to the USACE,” said Spellmon.

The MOU provides USACE opportunities to better engage with Native Americans through job fairs, career days, engagement with the USACE workforce, and access to projects, labs and research.  It also provides employment opportunities for Indigenous peoples to contribute their passion, talent and ingenuity toward enhancing the USACE workforce.

According to Spellmon, many believe there will be about 3.5 million STEM jobs in America that need to be filled by 2025.