Gillingham left Germantown high School in April 1968, two months before he would have graduated, to enlist in the Marine Corps. He was sent to Vietnam in December 1968 and assigned to Company D of the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. The private first class, a rifleman. sent taped messages to his family and friends, and was counting the days until he could go borne. He died on July 14. 1969, in Quang Nam Province at the age of 20. Survivors included his parents and a brother.