Lincol Gilbert, age 74, passed away July 1st, 2011.

Lincoln John Gilbert, 74, died Friday, July 1, 2011, of lung cancer. Born October 21, 1936 in Worcester, Massachusetts to Rodney and Caroline Gilbert. He was a 1954 graduate of Hillsboro High School. After a year at Harvard, he enlisted in the Air Force and served as a Serbo-Croatian and Russian linguist. He was a recipient of the Medal for Military Merit and the Air Medal. After leaving the Air Force, he graduated from the University of Maryland and worked for the US Postal Service in Washington, DC. He is survived by his wife, Laura-Jean.

Lincoln asked me to ask you to let his friends in your 6916th group know of his death. // Thanks - Lolly Gilbert

Lincoln J. Gilbert, 74 - former Serbo-Croatian linguist at Rhein-Main in the late 50's - early 60's. Served two tours at R/M...'56 - '60 as Serb...'61 - '65 as Russian linguist double threat. Did all the usual things; Incirlik, Tehran, Athens, Aviano, Airborne Mission Supervisor when still an A1C (E-4). He got out in 1970. I'd call him the PWG's "Intellectual in Residence." // Bob Cope

Words escape me at this loss. Lincoln did not retire from the AF but chose to get out with something like 17 years behind him. He worked for the postal department in DC and as a guide. Used his linguistic skills in Serb, Russian, and German. He met and married Lolly in DC. Lincoln had one of the sharpest minds I have known.
// Butch Moore

Butch, this is truly sad news. Linc and I shared some interesting experiences during our careers, and I am forever in his debt. I think everyone who knew him will agree that he was a unique personality, and he was the first AF enlisted person I had ever met who attended Harvard (Tom Crum was the second). I expect his memory will be well preserved in PWG legends for many years to come. // Tom Tennant