George Toriello sent me this information on Jaul Rayburn Gilner on
December 29, 2019.
Jaul Rayburn Gilner’s name is on the Hackensack City Hall Plaque and he is also listed on the Original Wall Unit at Hackensack High School as “Gilner, Rayburn J.”, but does not have a Gold Star next to his name, maybe no one knew, or the star had fallen off. The 1937 Yearbook has his name as Taul Rayburn Gilner apparently spelled his first name wrong because his grave marker has his name spelled Jaul Rayburn Gilner. Jaul Rayburn Gilner is not listed on the
1946 Yearbook Dedication page. Jaul Rayburn Gilner was born on April 8, 1919 and according to the 1920 Census his family was living at 28 Warren Street Hackensack, NJ. He graduated Hackensack High School in 1937.
Jaul Rayburn Gilner was serving with U.S. Army Air Corps 63rd.
Bomber Squadron, 43rd. Bomber Group and had risen to the rank of Corporal. While flying in a B-17 Flying Fortress, he was declared Missing in Action, and considered having died on December 13, 1944 in the Pacific Theater.
Jaul Rayburn Gilner has three brothers, James P. Gilner, William Robert Gilner, and Samuel Y. Gilner, who is a veteran of World War II also, because
“MSGT US ARMY World War II” is on the grave marker. Samuel was born on
May 7, 1916 and died on September 4, 1976 at the age of 60. He is buried at Germonds Cemetery, New City, Rockland County, New York, USA.
Samuel Y. Gilner most likely attended Hackensack Schools, but I have no record of that at the present time.
Another note here is that under the name “Gilner, Rayburn J.” as he is listed on
the Hackensack High School Wall Unit, there is a name “Gilwe, James” under his, which could be his brother “James P. Gilner", having been misspelled when they recopied the names because some were hard to read being handwritten and faded. I have no way of knowing this for certain at this time, but it is a possibility since he was of age for service.
Jaul Rayburn Gilner is buried or a memorial grave recognizing his sacrifice is in the
American Cemetery in the Capital Manila, of the Philippines.
Click here to view grave marker.
Written by:
Bob Meli
May 9, 2020
