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Navy Gold Star Program Information & Resource Site

Navy Gold Star is the Navy’s official program for providing long-term support to surviving families of Sailors who pass while on Active Duty. If you are visiting this page because you are a surviving family member of a deceased service member, please accept our most heartfelt sympathy and gratitude for your loved one’s service and sacrifice in defending our nation . . .

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Navy Gold Star Coordinator Support

Navy Gold Star Coordinators provide support to families around the world. Find a coordinator near you.

Navy Gold Star Tributes


U.S. Navy
CPO
Brent Doire
13 Aug 2023

Life with Brent was never ordinary, it was rich with love, laughter, and memories. I’ll never forget the day he told his debate teacher he wanted to be a lobbyist! Instead, the love for his country became his vision, and what a vision it was—he climbed the advancement ladder like it was no one’s business.  He especially loved his time attached to NSWG-2. The stories he shared are told by his family and shipmates, and in traditions kept. He changed our world and although his time here was brief, the impact was infinite Brent will forever be in our hearts, always in our thoughts, ever in our memories. He was a beloved son, husband, father, brother, shipmate, and faithful friend.

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U.S. Navy
PO1
Ernest Henderson
01 Aug 2018
Ernest was born and raised in western North Carolina. He joined the Navy late in life and earned his place as an FMF Corpsman. He loved his Marines. He had a deep love for his family and friends. He was always the smile and laughter anytime there was a gathering. He enjoyed fishing and riding 4 wheelers and just being outdoors be it in the woods, on the water, or somewhere in between. He was dearly loved and is greatly missed.
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U.S. Navy
Fire Controlman AEGIS 2nd Class
Adam D. Pecaut
27 Apr 2020

Adam Pecaut was more than a service member, he was a husband to Isabella Lena, a son to Doug and Donna Pecaut, a brother to Christina Pecaut, a loyal friend to many, and a daddy to a sweet Golden Retriever named Daisy. Between his desire to travel and golf, there was never a boring weekend when he was home. His time was not long, but nothing short of impactful. He loved Jesus and talking about Him with others, he loved his wife and flipping a new home they bought the year prior to his passing. He was encouraging and supportive to all dreams, big and wide. I have no doubt he’s playing fetch up in Heaven with Daisy and looking down with a smile on his face.

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U.S. Navy
CDR
Christopher Kalafut
24 Oct 2014
Christopher Kalafut was born in Akron, OH, but considered Oceanside, CA, his hometown. He grew up in California with his parents and four brothers and attended El Camino High School prior to attending college at the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in Kings Point, NY. In 1987, after college, Christopher joined the Navy and became an E2 pilot. "He always wanted to be a pilot when he grew up," said his wife, Mary. During his Navy career, Mary and Christopher welcomed five children, Marrion, Meaghan, Christopher, Keegan and Michael. During his free time, he enjoyed cycling and swimming as well as the family’s two Labrador retrievers, Kiki and Lala. Chris’s family remembers him as “Chris…God’s great gift to many!”
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U.S. Navy
PO3
Marcus Woods
27 Feb 2017

Marcus was born in Kansas City, MO to Tommy and Cindy Woods.  His family always made sure to find time for laughter and fun and would go on several day trips or longer vacations when school was not in session. Marcus was a cub scout and boy scout and was an Eagle Scout out of Troop 395 in Missouri.  
He joined the US Navy out of high school and became a radioman with the USS Missouri SSN-780.  He is remembered by his family as a problem solver who put this to use while serving on board the Mighty MO. For example, when cleaning the head for inspection he came up with the idea to zip tie plastic around the metal areas so that when it was time for inspection they only needed to cut the ties off and the metal would still be shiny and ready to pass inspection.   One of our favorite memories was the story of when the Missouri was in port off the coast of France.  Marcus wanted to show off some dance moves with his buddies so he got on top of a rickety table, one about to fall apart, and began twisting away.  The table held up as everyone clapped for him and this feat.                                                                          We love our Squibby so much and miss him every day.
Tommy, Cindy, and Chris Woods

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Navy Gold Star Testimonials