WW2 Anzio Fallen - Medal of Honor hero William Galt, 34th Infantry Division

Captain William Galt earned the Medal of Honor at Anzio while serving in the 34th Infantry Division.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8863090/william-wylie-galt
https://www.amazon.com/34th-Infantry-Division-World-War/dp/B004L5VOJQ 

William Wylie Galt never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on December 19, 1919 in Geyser, Montana. His parents Errol and Florence were born in Minnesota and Wisconsin, respectively. His father worked as a bank cashier and later became a vice president at the First National Bank of Great Falls. William had two older sisters, two younger sisters, and one younger brother. He graduated with a degree in animal husbandry from Montana State University in 1942 where he participated in ROTC. He was a football star and prize winning rodeo rider. He married Patricia Ann Sandbo on July 24, 1942.

William was commissioned a second lieutenant in June 1942. He served in the 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division where he eventual reached the rank of captain and served as the 1st Battalion's S-3 operations officer. The 34th ID saw combat in French Algeria, Tunisia, and Italy. While holding the rank of lieutenant, Galt was wounded in Africa, but it was not serious enough to send him home. He earned the Silver Star in November 1943 while in Italy when he took the initiative to make a path through a mined field for his battalion to follow. 

He was wounded again at Monte Cassino, a wound that had him sidelined for three weeks (and may have earned him a second Silver Star). 

The 34th ID was sent to Anzio on March 25, 1944. On the morning of May 29, 1944 the 1st Battalion was ordered to take Villa Crocetta from the Germans. The Germans had the high ground and were well equipped with heavy mortars and both 77mm and 88mm guns. Twice the Germans stopped the battalion's attack, sending it retreating. Captain Galt volunteered to lead the third attack which succeeded completely due to his efforts, at the cost of his life.

He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. His citation reads as follows:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. Capt. Galt, Battalion S3, at a particularly critical period following 2 unsuccessful attacks by his battalion, of his own volition went forward and ascertained just how critical the situation was. He volunteered, at the risk of his life, personally to lead the battalion against the objective. 

When the lone remaining tank destroyer refused to go forward, Capt. Galt jumped on the tank destroyer and ordered it to precede the attack. As the tank destroyer moved forward, followed by a company of riflemen, Capt. Galt manned the .30-caliber machine-gun in the turret of the tank destroyer, located and directed fire on an enemy 77mm. anti-tank gun, and destroyed it. 

Nearing the enemy positions, Capt. Galt stood fully exposed in the turret, ceaselessly firing his machine-gun and tossing hand grenades into the enemy zigzag series of trenches despite the hail of sniper and machine-gun bullets ricocheting off the tank destroyer. 

As the tank destroyer moved, Capt. Galt so maneuvered it that 40 of the enemy were trapped in one trench. When they refused to surrender, Capt. Galt pressed the trigger of the machinegun and dispatched every one of them. 

A few minutes later an 88mm shell struck the tank destroyer and Capt. Galt fell mortally wounded across his machinegun. He had personally killed 40 Germans and wounded many more. 

Capt. Galt pitted his judgment and superb courage against overwhelming odds, exemplifying the highest measure of devotion to his country and the finest traditions of the U.S. Army.

His brother Jack, a 101st Airborne paratrooper, earned the Bronze Star during the Battle of the Bulge and died in 2007.

His grave is at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Great Falls, Montana. His widow remarried and died in 2013.

Thank you Captain Galt for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for William.

Last year on this date I profiled Distinguished Flying Cross hero and Privateer pilot Leonard Reichert. You can read about Leonard here.

On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!

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