Obituary of Robert Eugene Gabe

1st Master Sargeant Robert Eugene Gabe, 97, of Valatie, passed away on May 16, 2023 in the Albany Medical Center with his loving wife by his side. Born in Syracuse, NY on February 21, 1926, he was the son to the late Ethel and Joseph Gabe. He attended school in Hudson, NY and was drafted into the Army immediately after. Robert completed 26 and a half years of active duty from May 1944 - Sept. 1970. He was in 3 Wars - WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Throughout his awesome career, he received many awards and medals including 4 Purple Hearts, Good Conduct Medals and 4 Bronze Star Medals. After his Army career, he worked as a Postmaster for 17 years. The following is a timeline of his very impressive military career - "Robert Eugene Gabe, (1st Sgt.,) USA (Ret.), born Feb. 21, 1926 at Syracuse, NY. Entered service at Hudson, NY May16, 1944. Basic: Co. A, 129th Tank Destroyer Training Regt., N.Camp Hook, TX then six weeks of basic infantry at Camp Wolters, TX. Co. C, 9th AIB, 6th Armored Division, Bastogne, Dec. 26, 1944. Returned w/ Cannon Co. 109th Infantry, 28th Infantry Division, August 1945. Assigned to Co. L, 38th Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division, Cp. Swift, TX, Nov. 19, 1945. Co. A, 63rd Infantry, 6th Infantry Division, Kunsan, Korea and one year with Co. C, 20th Infantry Regt., returning 1948. (Korean Occupation). B Trp, 3rd Armored Cav., Ft. Monroe, VA and then to A Trp., 3rd ACR Ft. Meade, MD. Deployed to Korea, July 1950 assigned to Co. F, 5th Cav., 1st Cav. Div. WIA, Sept. 18, 1950. Promoted to master sergeant Oct. 7, 1950 and acting platoon leader until WIA and evacuated to States. Assigned to Machine gun Committee, Ft. Benning, GA and then as 1Sgt. to NCO Student Inf. Co. (Graduated from Light and Hvy. Wpns. Inf. Ldr Crs). 1Sgt. of Co. E., 102 Inf. Regt., 43rd Inf. Div. Augsburg, Germany and Ben. Intelligence Sergeant of 1st Bn. 11th inf., 5th Inf. Div. 1952-1955. Reassigned to Co. A, 15th Inf., 3rd Inf. Div., Ft. Benning, GA. Volunteered for Airborne Training with 82nd AD, Ft. Bragg, NC. Assigned 1Sgt. HQ, 1st Bn., 505 Abn. Inf. Reassigned to Co. A, 503rd Abn. Inf. as Platoon Sgt. Assigned to HQ Co. 1st Bn. 50th AIB, 4th AD, Erlangen Germany. Served as Platoon Sergeantd, 1st Sgt. and Battalion Intelligence Sergeant , departed 1963 for assignment to Co. C., 187 Abn. Inf., Ft. Bragg, NC. Service from November 1965 to March 1968: Volunteered for Special Forces (Green Berets), went to Vietnam, Dec. 1964, WIA at Song Be, May 11, 1965, evacuated to Walter Reed where training film was made on operation of right eye. Although 60% disabled, fought medical retirement and was reassigned to Co. C, 10th Special Forces, Bad Tolz, Germany, where participated in night parachute drops, mountain and ski operations and attended the German Army Parachute School. Reassigned to Co. B, 7th Special Forces, Ft. Bragg, NC. Went to Alaska for mountain, river and glacier training at the Northern Warfare Training School. Reassigned to HQ, 2nd Bn. 504th Inf., 82 Abn. Div. Was Bn. Intelligence Officer (Acting) until retirement, November 1968. (Awarded Army Commendation Medal for this service). Decorations: CIB, 3rd award, BSM w/V and two/OLC, Purple Heart w/2 OLC, GCM w/seven knots, Master Parachutist Badge, German and Vietnamese Parachute Badges, Conspicuous Service Cross from New York State plus the usual service ribbons during three conflicts. Graduated from Albany Business College , Albany, NY; worked for USPS for 17 years, retired as supervisor of mails, February 1988. Robert is survived by his loving wife, Joyce Gabe of 52 years; his sister, Anne Brockway; grandson, Dylan Coons; his nephew and wife, Jeffrey and Marie Milges and his niece, Tony Shufelt. Besides his parents, Robert is also predeceased by his daughters, Diane Shirley and Rosalee Gabe; stepson, Donald Coons and his brother, Joseph Gabe. Graveside services with military honors will be 12 PM, Tuesday, May 23rd at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Schuylerville, NY.