James Gregory

James Birdsey Gregory

Born April 1925, Alhambra, CA. Died January 2016, Long beach, CA

Parents Ernest and Grace Birdsey Gregory, Graduate of Alhambra High school 1942, Enlisted in US Army Airforce 1942. Commissioned 2 nd LT., Navigator on a B17 with the 95 th Bomb Group based in Horham, England. Flew support missions out of Poltava, Ukraine, to bomb synthetic oil plants in Romania. Shot down near Leipzig, Germany and wounded. Taken prisoner and held till April 29 th , 1945. Awarded Purple Heart and Air Medal.

Graduate of Whittier College, awarded PhD in Analytical Chemistry from Stanford in 1952. Employed by Union Oil of California for 20 years. Appointed Administrator of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration by President Nixon in 1963. Consultant on the Alaska Pipeline, Vice President of Conrail, Philadelphia, PA. Consultant to Association of American Railroads. Retired in 1995.

Predeceased by first wife Marilyn Schaefer and daughter Linda Young Strong. Survived by wife of 50 years, Dorothy Rasinski Gregory, MD., JD. Granddaughter Michelle Young Long (Merrill), Grandson Thomas Young (Heather), Great Grandchildren Cannon and Eden Long, and Lily Young.

At his specific request there will be no formal ceremonies. Inurnment at Riverside National Cemetery. Contributions to Disabled American Veterans or Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation would be appreciated.