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Galen, William R. (01044825): Difference between revisions

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|middle=R.
|middle=R.
|class_section=D
|class_section=D
|class_rank=2nd Lt
|class_rank=Second Lieutenant
|birth_year=1914
|birth_year=1914
|death_year=1994
|death_year=1994
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|photo=5645441285477746.jpg
|photo=5645441285477746.jpg
|arm_or_service=Coast Artillery Corps
|arm_or_service=Coast Artillery Corps
|rank_final=Pvt
|rank_final=Captain
|birth_place=Cleveland, Ohio
|nativity=United States
|awards=Purple Heart; Bronze Star
|awards_grid=Purple Heart;;Bronze Star
|awards_ribbons=Ribbon_Purple_Heart_ribbon.png;Ribbon_Bronze_Star_Medal_ribbon.png
|awards_ribbon_rows=Ribbon_Purple_Heart_ribbon.png;;Ribbon_Bronze_Star_Medal_ribbon.png
}}
}}


<div class="soldier-lead">
<div class="soldier-lead">
'''[[Galen, William R. (01044825)|William R. Galen]]''' (1914 – 27 March 1944) was a Ritchie Boy who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 3 and served with IPW Team 15.
'''William R. Galen''' (1914&ndash;1994) was a United States Army captain who trained at [[Camp Ritchie]], Maryland, in [[Class 3]] and served with [[Team IPW 15|IPW Team 15]] in the Mediterranean theater.
</div>
</div>


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
On June 16, 2022, Christopher Galen, son of Ritchie Boy Lt. Bill Galen, visited the site of Camp Ritchie. Bill Galen is in the center wearing a helmet, and Ritchie Boy Sgt.
William R. “Bill” Galen was born in 1914 in Cleveland, Ohio. He grew up speaking some German through family heritage, attended Valparaiso College during the Great Depression, and taught school in Ohio before he was drafted in 1941.


In the article, Chris Galen describes how RB Visko was killed in action in Anzio, Italy, on March 27, 1944, and how Chris' father was unable to locate any family members of RB Visko after the war. For Visko, then, perhaps the only tribute can be seen in the faces of those whose lives and livelihoods were made possible by his short time on Earth." Earlier this week, we wrote about Christopher Galen's visit to the Ritchie Museum and the stories he shared about his father's service as Ritchie Boy Lt.
After Officers Candidate School in 1942, Galen trained at Camp Ritchie (Class 3), graduating on 23 December 1942. Shipped to North Africa in April 1943, he took part in the Sicily invasion that July and later in the Salerno and Anzio landings. Promoted to captain, he entered Rome in June 1944 and spent the last eight months of the war as executive officer for POW interrogations at Fifth Army headquarters in Florence, commanding HQ Detachment 2680. Over the course of the war he served with the 3rd, 36th, and 85th Infantry Divisions as well as II Corps and Fifth Army headquarters, and he received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. In the summer of 1945 he served with the U.S. occupation force in Austria, returning to the United States in November 1945. Among the Ritchie Boys who served with him was Sergeant [[Visko, George W. (32298547)|George W. Visko]], killed at Anzio on 27 March 1944.


The Signal Corps photo caption says Galen is with the 6695 Military Intelligence Service. Bill Galen, knew only a little about Visko's stateside ties in Manhattan. But when Galen’s brother back in Illinois reached out to her, he was informed that Visko’s “wife” was married -- but not to Visko -- and the little girl was not Visko's daughter.
After leaving the Army, Galen briefly returned to the Midwest, then moved to Los Angeles in 1946. Under the G.I. Bill he earned a graduate degree at the University of Southern California and became a music professor. He married in 1961, settled in Nebraska with his wife Betty, and taught voice, piano, and German. Galen died in 1994.
 
Galen was unable to find out more about any connections Visko had, meaning that his memory is (as far as we know) only preserved in these photos. Lieutenant Bill Galen was trained in the third Camp Ritchie class of World War II, from which he graduated two days before Christmas 1942. Galen was a native of Cleveland and grew up speaking some German because of his family heritage.
 
Galen was shipped to North Africa in April 1943, then was among the first wave of Allied troops to invade Sicily in July. In all, Galen served with the 3rd, 36th and 85th divisions, along with II Corps and the 5th Army HQ, and earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star in the process. After the victory in Europe, Galen was assigned to the U.S. Occupation force in Austria that summer, finally coming back to the states in November 1945.


== Research notes ==
== Research notes ==
* 85th Infantry


== Gallery ==
== Gallery ==
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1501755581988697.jpg|The Cleveland Press newspaper also took Galen's picture in the summer of 1944, as he interrogated German POWs.
1501755581988697.jpg|The Cleveland Press newspaper also took Galen's picture in the summer of 1944, as he interrogated German POWs.
1501755708655351.jpg
1501755708655351.jpg
1501755785322010.jpg|Galen at center with officers under his command at the 5th Army HQ IPW detachment in Florence, Christmastime 1944. Most are known to be Ritchie Boys. At lower left are: Eigen, Hobelman, Galen, Hergenreter, Allen; the back row includes Jacobson and Nielsen.
1501755785322010.jpg|[[Galen, William R. (01044825)|William R. Galen]] at center with officers under his command at the 5th Army HQ IPW detachment in Florence, Christmastime 1944. Most are known to be Ritchie Boys. At lower left are: Eigen, [[Hobelman, Alfred C. (0175302)|Hobelman]], Galen, Hergenreter, Allen; the back row includes Jacobson and Nielsen (Eigen / Hergenreter / Allen / Jacobson / Nielsen not uniquely matched to roster pages)
1478472944316961.jpg|Cpl. [[Salemi, Salvatore (32622166)|Salvatore Salemi]], at left, with fellow Ritchie Boys Lts. [[Galen, William R. (01044825)|Bill Galen]] and [[Sottile, Nicholas Joseph (01015080)|Nick Sottile]], Trapani, Sicily, 1943
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<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">
<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
* 4 August 1941 — Enlisted at Toledo, OH as Pvt (ASN: 35019688).
* 1914 — Born in Cleveland, Ohio.
* 23 December 1942 — Graduated with Class 3.
* 4 August 1941 — Enlisted at Toledo, Ohio (enlisted ASN 35019688).
* Assigned to IPW Team 15 attached to 85th Infantry Division.
* 1942 — Completed Officers Candidate School; entered Camp Ritchie G-2 training.
* Born Born in.
* 23 December 1942 — Graduated Camp Ritchie Class 3.
* April 1943 — Shipped to North Africa.
* July 1943 — Took part in the Allied invasion of Sicily.
* 1943–1944 — Participated in the Salerno and Anzio landings; later entered Rome.
* 1944–1945 — Executive officer for POW interrogations, Fifth Army HQ, Florence (HQ Detachment 2680).
* Summer 1945 — Assigned to U.S. occupation forces in Austria.
* November 1945 — Returned to the United States.
* 1946 — Moved to Los Angeles; later earned a graduate degree at USC and taught music.
* 1961 — Married; later settled in Nebraska.
* 1994 — Died.
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</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page posts on William R. Galen (2022-08-29, 2022-09-02, and related)
* [https://www.g2warletters.com/ g2warletters.com — William R. Galen wartime letters and photos]
* [[:File:1501755785322010.jpg|Florence IPW detachment, Christmas 1944 (Galen / Hobelman)]]
* [[:File:1478472944316961.jpg|Trapani 1943 — Salemi, Galen, and Sottile]]
* Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
* Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
* Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
* Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records

Latest revision as of 23:00, 16 September 2026

William R. Galen
William R. Galen
Personal details
Born1914
Cleveland, Ohio
Died1994
NativityUnited States
AwardsPurple Heart; Bronze Star
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch United States Army
Arm / serviceCoast Artillery Corps
ASN01044825
RankCaptain
Rank at RitchieSecond Lieutenant
Camp RitchieClass 3 (2 November – 23 December 1942)
SectionD
TeamIPW 15
Awards and honors
Purple Heart Bronze Star
Teammates
Team — IPW 15
These are other soldiers listed on the same team roster. People moved between teams; overlapping service dates are not always documented.
Research notes on this page are compiled from the source file and later edits. They may be unverified, incomplete, or incorrect, and should not be treated as established fact. Please correct the article or add sources on the talk page. For class-roster terms, see About the data.
Sources & confidence: Treat Research notes as leads, not settled fact. Prefer NARA, the class roster, newspapers, Find a Grave, or published histories for contested claims. Mark unsourced claims with {{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.


William R. Galen (1914–1994) was a United States Army captain who trained at Camp Ritchie, Maryland, in Class 3 and served with IPW Team 15 in the Mediterranean theater.

Biography[edit | edit source]

William R. “Bill” Galen was born in 1914 in Cleveland, Ohio. He grew up speaking some German through family heritage, attended Valparaiso College during the Great Depression, and taught school in Ohio before he was drafted in 1941.

After Officers Candidate School in 1942, Galen trained at Camp Ritchie (Class 3), graduating on 23 December 1942. Shipped to North Africa in April 1943, he took part in the Sicily invasion that July and later in the Salerno and Anzio landings. Promoted to captain, he entered Rome in June 1944 and spent the last eight months of the war as executive officer for POW interrogations at Fifth Army headquarters in Florence, commanding HQ Detachment 2680. Over the course of the war he served with the 3rd, 36th, and 85th Infantry Divisions as well as II Corps and Fifth Army headquarters, and he received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. In the summer of 1945 he served with the U.S. occupation force in Austria, returning to the United States in November 1945. Among the Ritchie Boys who served with him was Sergeant George W. Visko, killed at Anzio on 27 March 1944.

After leaving the Army, Galen briefly returned to the Midwest, then moved to Los Angeles in 1946. Under the G.I. Bill he earned a graduate degree at the University of Southern California and became a music professor. He married in 1961, settled in Nebraska with his wife Betty, and taught voice, piano, and German. Galen died in 1994.

Research notes[edit | edit source]

Gallery[edit | edit source]

  • RB Lt. Bill Galen is in the center wearing a helmet, and Ritchie Boy Sgt. George W. Visko is on the far left
    RB Lt. Bill Galen is in the center wearing a helmet, and Ritchie Boy Sgt. George W. Visko is on the far left
  • Sgt. George Visko interrogates a German POW in Dragoni, Italy, in the fall of 1943.
    Sgt. George Visko interrogates a German POW in Dragoni, Italy, in the fall of 1943.
  • Visko's gravesite in the Sicily–Rome American Cemetery and Memorial in Nettuno, Italy.
    Visko's gravesite in the Sicily–Rome American Cemetery and Memorial in Nettuno, Italy.
  • Galen paid a photographer to take this studio portrait in Rome, summer 1944, shortly after he was promoted to captain.
    Galen paid a photographer to take this studio portrait in Rome, summer 1944, shortly after he was promoted to captain.
  • The Cleveland Press newspaper also took Galen's picture in the summer of 1944, as he interrogated German POWs.
    The Cleveland Press newspaper also took Galen's picture in the summer of 1944, as he interrogated German POWs.
  • William R. Galen at center with officers under his command at the 5th Army HQ IPW detachment in Florence, Christmastime 1944. Most are known to be Ritchie Boys. At lower left are: Eigen, Hobelman, Galen, Hergenreter, Allen; the back row includes Jacobson and Nielsen (Eigen / Hergenreter / Allen / Jacobson / Nielsen not uniquely matched to roster pages)
    William R. Galen at center with officers under his command at the 5th Army HQ IPW detachment in Florence, Christmastime 1944. Most are known to be Ritchie Boys. At lower left are: Eigen, Hobelman, Galen, Hergenreter, Allen; the back row includes Jacobson and Nielsen (Eigen / Hergenreter / Allen / Jacobson / Nielsen not uniquely matched to roster pages)
  • Cpl. Salvatore Salemi, at left, with fellow Ritchie Boys Lts. Bill Galen and Nick Sottile, Trapani, Sicily, 1943
    Cpl. Salvatore Salemi, at left, with fellow Ritchie Boys Lts. Bill Galen and Nick Sottile, Trapani, Sicily, 1943

Technical record[edit | edit source]

Field Imported value
Approx Age at Death 80
Class_ASN 44825
Class_Name GALEN, William R.
match_method asn_partial_name_exact
row_source both

Timeline[edit | edit source]

  • 1914 — Born in Cleveland, Ohio.
  • 4 August 1941 — Enlisted at Toledo, Ohio (enlisted ASN 35019688).
  • 1942 — Completed Officers Candidate School; entered Camp Ritchie G-2 training.
  • 23 December 1942 — Graduated Camp Ritchie Class 3.
  • April 1943 — Shipped to North Africa.
  • July 1943 — Took part in the Allied invasion of Sicily.
  • 1943–1944 — Participated in the Salerno and Anzio landings; later entered Rome.
  • 1944–1945 — Executive officer for POW interrogations, Fifth Army HQ, Florence (HQ Detachment 2680).
  • Summer 1945 — Assigned to U.S. occupation forces in Austria.
  • November 1945 — Returned to the United States.
  • 1946 — Moved to Los Angeles; later earned a graduate degree at USC and taught music.
  • 1961 — Married; later settled in Nebraska.
  • 1994 — Died.

Sources[edit | edit source]

  • Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page posts on William R. Galen (2022-08-29, 2022-09-02, and related)
  • g2warletters.com — William R. Galen wartime letters and photos
  • Florence IPW detachment, Christmas 1944 (Galen / Hobelman)
  • Trapani 1943 — Salemi, Galen, and Sottile
  • Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
  • Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
  • NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
  • 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
  • Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2022-08-29 (1 post)
  • Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2022-09-02 (1 post)
  • Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2026-05-05 (1 post)
  • Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2026-06-24 (1 post)
  • Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2026-08-13 (1 post)
  • Facebook-linked source: g2warletters.com
  • Dan Gross, Timeline of William R. Galen for Camp Ritchie (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed)
  • Dan Gross, Timeline of Galen, William R. for Camp Ritchie (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: WILLIAM R. GALEN.docx)
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