Gay, Hobart Raymond “Hap”, born 16-05-1894 in Rockport, Illinois, 
to, Hobart Raymond Gay Sr, who was 29 and his wife, Alzina DeGroff Orndorff, who was 23. Hobart began his military career being commissioned a US Army Cavalry officer in 1917. In the 1930s, he transferred to the Quartermaster Corps 
, rising through the ranks to Colonel in 1941. During World War II, he served as Chief of Staff for the 1st Armored Corps 
in North Africa and was promoted Brigadier General Chief of Staff of the US 7th Army, nicknamed “”Seven Steps to Hell” 
for the Sicily campaign in 1943. In 1944, he became Chief of Staff for the US 3rd Army 
under General Georg Smith Patton 
serving until the end of the war. After the war, when General Patton took command of US 15thArmy 
, he was again Chief of Staff.
to, Hobart Raymond Gay Sr, who was 29 and his wife, Alzina DeGroff Orndorff, who was 23. Hobart began his military career being commissioned a US Army Cavalry officer in 1917. In the 1930s, he transferred to the Quartermaster Corps , rising through the ranks to Colonel in 1941. During World War II, he served as Chief of Staff for the 1st Armored Corps in North Africa and was promoted Brigadier General Chief of Staff of the US 7th Army, nicknamed “”Seven Steps to Hell” for the Sicily campaign in 1943. In 1944, he became Chief of Staff for the US 3rd Army under General Georg Smith Patton serving until the end of the war. After the war, when General Patton took command of US 15thArmy , he was again Chief of Staff.
On 09-09-1945, Patton and Gay were seated in the back seat of the staff car, en route to a hunting lodge when a traffic accident resulted in General Patton sustaining spinal injuries which later cost his life.
The driver Horace Woodring was unhurted. General Hobart Gay was uninjured too. After Patton’s death, Gay assumed command of the US 1th Armored Division 
Europe serving until 1947. During the Korean War, he commanded the 1th Cavalry Division 
and was deputy commander of the US 4th Army
. Returning to the United States, he commanded the US VI Corps 
in 1952 and the US 5th Army 
in 1954. He ended his Army career in 1955, as Lieutenant General in command of the Anti-aircraft and Guided Missile Center, Fort Bliss, Texas. Following retirement, Gay became superintendent of the New Mexico Military Institute.Hobart Sr was married with Alzina Orndorff Gay 
she died 17-02-1997 (age 96) in El Paso, El Paso County, Texas, USA.
she died 17-02-1997 (age 96) in El Paso, El Paso County, Texas, USA.They had one son Captain Hobart Raymond “Hoby” Gay Jr., 
born 26-02-1924 in Fort Riley, Geary County, He arrived at West Point on 01-07-1942, having received his appointment from the Honorable Luther Patrick of Alabama. He was not involved in WW2 and in the summer of 1950 he volunteered for duty in Korea, where he flew jet aircraft for 105 combat missions with the 8th Fighter Bomber Squadron 
from 1951 to 1952. Returning to his base from Otis on 10-08-1952, he radioed in for landing instructions and nothing more was heard. A search was organized and an oil spot was discovered on the surface of the Atlantic, not too far from shore. The search extended to the nearby islands and under the water. His remains were, never recovered. There is a remembrance stone on Arlington cemetery, Section X, Row D, Site 91D.
born 26-02-1924 in Fort Riley, Geary County, He arrived at West Point on 01-07-1942, having received his appointment from the Honorable Luther Patrick of Alabama. He was not involved in WW2 and in the summer of 1950 he volunteered for duty in Korea, where he flew jet aircraft for 105 combat missions with the 8th Fighter Bomber Squadron from 1951 to 1952. Returning to his base from Otis on 10-08-1952, he radioed in for landing instructions and nothing more was heard. A search was organized and an oil spot was discovered on the surface of the Atlantic, not too far from shore. The search extended to the nearby islands and under the water. His remains were, never recovered. There is a remembrance stone on Arlington cemetery, Section X, Row D, Site 91D.
Memorial to honor the exact spot where the iconic General Patton began and led a victorious WWII campaign in the Arlon region.Death and burial ground of Gay, Hobart Raymond “Hap”.
here on the left with Admiral James Henry Doyle 
discussing amphibious landing. James Doyle died 23-02-2018 (aged 92) in Bethesda, Maryland.Hobart Gay died in El Paso, Texas, old age 89, on 19-08-1983 and was interred at the Fort Bliss National Cemetery.
Mary M Feezel
Gen Hobart Gay and his wife also had a daughter, Alzina Jr (Zee). She was married to my uncle, Dean McNaughton, until her suicide in (approximately) 1970. They had two sons and one daughter, who are all still living in 2025.