by Natasha Khairullah
Staff Writer
When James “Jim” Gaff Jr. enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17, he had no idea what to expect.
After enlisting in both the Navy and the Marine Corps for a total of only two years, what Gaff ended up with was a 60-year relationship with the military and a nomination for the coveted 2006 Spirit of Hope Award.
Gaff was nominated for the award by Cmdr. Doug Cochrane of Mayport Naval Squadron HSL44 earlier this year. He has contributed to the Navy and Marine Corps community throughout Northeast Florida through numerous fundraising activities — which have yielded nearly $100,000 — and efforts to organize an annual Veterans Appreciation Day Golf Tournament at the Plantation Country Club in Ponte Vedra – just to name a few.
The Spirit of Hope Award is presented annually to outstanding entertainers and other distinguished Americans and organizations whose patriotism and service to the troops through the United Service Organization reflects that of Bob Hope, the namesake of the award. Past recipients include Walter Cronkite, Sen. John Glenn and former Pres. George H.W. Bush.
“Jim deserves this award, hands down,” said Dan McCarthy, director of military affairs for the city of Jacksonville. “His selflessness and generosity over the years have improved the lives of numerous sailors and military members in the Jacksonville area.”
McCarthy, Mayor John Peyton and Capt. Charlie King, commanding officer of Naval Station Mayport, endorsed Gaff for the award in 2005.
“The most interesting thing about Jim is his story,” said McCarthy. “His first job was at D-Day.”
Gaff’s story began in 1943 in Rhode Island. He was 17.
On June 1, while the United States was enmeshed in World War II, Gaff and his best friend enlisted in the Navy.
“I was about 5-foot 6 and 150 pounds. I didn’t smoke, I didn’t drink. I didn’t even shave,” recalled Gaff of his earlier years.
After he completed basic recruit training in Sampson, N.Y., Gaff was deployed as part of a convoy bound for North Africa. From there, his convoy transferred 6-inch shells from North Africa to Palermo, Sicily. Then, an executive order for Operation Overload came on June 5. Gaff, now promoted to an LCCP coxswain, piloted 17 round trips to Utah Beach in France on the historic day. He continued without rest or sleep the next day, eventually making over 50 round trips to ferry combat troops and wounded soldiers.
For his heroism in combat, Gaff was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal. Also, Gaff was awarded the Battle of the Bulge Campaign Medal for his actions against the German army in the Battle in Bastogne.
Eventually, along with thousands of others, Gaff was discharged from the Navy in the fall of 1945 and returned to his home in Rhode Island to finish high school.
Upon his return home, Gaff was informed his friend who went with him to enlist two summers earlier had been killed in the invasion of Guam.
“It was sad to hear,” said Gaff. “I didn’t even know when it happened or anything. That was tough.”
After he graduated, Gaff set his eyes on college, hoping to get into a school near home.
“I tried all over New England to get into a college,” said Gaff, “but I couldn’t get in.”
A chance meeting with a man Gaff didn’t know eventually brought him to Florida. He told Gaff about a small school in DeLand called Stetson.
Gaff ended up enrolling in Stetson University in 1947 under the G.I. Bill and graduated in 1951. He studied economics and history and his time at Stetson led to his permanent residence in Florida.
After graduation, Gaff moved to Ft. Lauderdale and became a trader in a stock brokerage firm. He later joined the Ft. Lauderdale Council of the Navy League of the U.S., where he held every possible position of leadership, culminating in his election as Navy League President in 1974.
Under his leadership, Gaff transformed the Council into an organization that was highly respected by the highest levels of Naval leadership, resulting in the Council‘s receipt of the National Outstanding Council Award in 1974.
Gaff retired in 1993 and moved to the Plantation in Ponte Vedra. Since then, he has been active in the Navy League of the United States, Mayport Council. He raised over $50,000 for the Navy League and the Sea Cadets and $30,000 for the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society.
Also, he recruited over 60 new members for the Mayport Council of the Navy League. As president of the USS Roosevelt Commissioning Committee, he raised funds and solicited donations to establish the Roosevelt’s Ships Library.
One of Gaff’s most widely recognized accomplishments to date is his organization of Veteran’s Appreciation Day, said McCarthy. This is a military-community event hosted by The Plantation Country Club at Ponte Vedra which provides war vets with rounds of golf, gourmet lunches and generous prize giveaways.
“We (the Plantation) are one of the only places that does this,” said Gaff. “So many people put their time and effort into making this happen over the years, not just me.”
According to Peyton, it is this very same attitude of Gaff’s that makes him worthy of the award.
In an endorsement letter for Gaff’s receipt of the award, Peyton wrote: “While his combat veteran status earned as a coxswain during the D-Day invasion attracts immediate attention, it is his humble, respectful and tireless service to military families that endures in the mind of all in Jacksonville.”
The 2006 Spirit of Hope Award is scheduled to be awarded to Gaff at the Military Appreciation Luncheon Nov. 13 at the Hyatt.