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Robert B. Galaher
10th Mountain Division — MTG/10 Recon - 2662 Detachment |
This page is meant to explore and share information about my father's service in the 10th Mountain Division. Most photos can be clicked on to view a larger version and/or reveal further information. Robert Galaher was an avid skier before and after the war. The Bob Galaher Ski History site can be found here.
Robert Galaher, 3102 5980, eventually held the highest enlisted rank of Master Sgt. He started service at Fort Lewis under Sgt. Walter Prager, went on to the manuevers near Jolon California in late 1942, and then to Camp Hale, Camp Swift, and Italy. His early service at Camp Hale included time with two famous units, the MTG and 10 Recon. Unlike most of the 10th, Robert Galaher and Gordon Wren went over to Italy early (via Miami, Natal (Brazil), Dakar (Africa), and Algiers (Algeria)) as part of a special detachment of five officers and fifteen men dispatched to a joint U.S. -British mountain school. In a letter Gordon Wren stated that they were originally to go to North Africa, but that the school had been moved to Sepino, and after a few days in Africa they were sent there. He goes on to state that he and Robert were part of special training mission at Anzio, during the break through to Rome. They did not see their old outfit when it arrived in 1945, and they were not part of the assent on Riva Ridge. They were, however, attached to the engineers and generally up front and not infrequently behind German lines. Abbott Galaher recalls that his father Robert told of how on one occasion he was in an area that was over run by the Germans and hid in some bushes with a Sikh until the Germans were pushed back. Gordon also wrote that he and Robert were at Cassino, having arrived after the bombing. After the war he served as an Investigator in post war Europe and Skied on the U.S. Army Ski Team in the Alps before returning to the U.S. and being honorably discharged.
MILITARY HISTORY |
ARMY SERIAL NO.
31 025 980
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GRADE
M SGT
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ARM OR SERVICE
INF
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COMPONENT
AUS
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DATE OF INDUCTION
9 JAN 42
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DATE OF ENTRY INTO ACTIVE SERVICE
9 JAN 42
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PLACE OF ENTRY INTO SERVICE
FT DEVENS MASS
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MILITARY OCCUPATION SPECIALTY AND NO.
INVESTIGATOR 301
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MILITARY QUALIFICATION
MM RIFLE
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BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS
NAPLES FOGGIA - ROME ARNO - NORTH APPENNINES
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DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS
EUROPEAN AFRICAN MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER CAMPAIGN RIBBON, AMERICAN THEATER CAMPAIGN RIBBON, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, VICTORY MEDAL
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WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION
NONE
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CONTINENTAL SERVICE YEARS
1 MONTHS 11 DAYS 20
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FOREIGN SERVICE YEARS
2 MONTHS 4 DAYS 13
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HIGHEST GRADE HELD
M SGT
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DATE OF DEPARTURE
24 DEC 43
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DESTINATION
ETO 18 JAN 44
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DATE OF DEPARTURE
27 APR 46
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DESTINATION
USA 6 MAY 46
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ISSUED LAPEL BUTTON
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ASR SCORE
2 SEPT 1945 (80)
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SUMMARY OF MILITARY OCCUPATIONS |
| MONTHS |
GRADE |
MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY |
| 3 |
Pvt |
Infantry basic (521) |
| 15 |
Pfc |
Rifleman (745) |
| 24 |
T/Sgt |
Instructor (659) |
| 11 |
M/Sgt |
Investigator (301) |
| INVESTIGATOR -- Served 29 months overseas in Italy, Austria, Germany, France, and Switzerland, assigned to 430th Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment. Conducted investigations of war criminals, Nazi party activities, foreign agents, sabotiers and espionage. Made investigations, collected necessary information and made arrests of foreign military and civilian personnel. Questioned German civilians and suspects in their native language. Prepared and made out reports and forms of various types of investigations. Did counter intelligence work in areas occupied by U.S. military forces. |
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Climbing Location unknown
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Sepino, Italy.
See Facts and Footnotes page to compare this with a current photo taken from almost exactly the same spot.
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ALLIED FORCE HEADQUARTERS, Italy, (Delayed) - Staff Sergeant Robert Galaher, son of Mrs. C.S. galaher, 63 Milk street, North Andover, Mass. teaches front line troops of the Fifth and Eight Armies the technique of winter and mountain warfare as an instructor with the Special Mountain Warfare Training Detachment, in the Mediterranean Theater of operations. This organization instructs Allied forces in overcoming the biggest obstacle they have faced in the Italian campaign - the mountains. Instruction is given in skiing, conducting travel by mule pack trains and in rock-climbing. These instructors teach troops from the British Isles, South Africa, India, Canada, Poland, Czechoslovakia and the United States. Sergeant Galaher who has a brother serving in Hawaii, has been over seas 13 months and wears the Mediterranean Theater Ribbon with one Battle Participation Star. |
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Time Line
Induction January 9, 1942
Fort Lewis, Washington
Paradise Inn Mt. Rainier Washington
Jolon California late 1942
Seneca Rocks West Virginia July 1943
Pine Camp (Now Fort Drum) New York (a few weeks)
Camp Hale Pando Colorado
To Naples via Camp Hale Colorado, Miami Florida, Natal Brazil, Dakar Senegal, and Algiers Algeria Dec 1943
Leave for British Mountain School in Lebanon Dec 13th, 1943
Christmas 1943 in Natal Brazil
Ski racing in Atlas Mountains Bilda
Naples Replacement Depot
Sepino 3 to 6 months
Anzio
Cassino
Naples one month Seventh Depot
Grand Sasso (two weeks leave Summits Corno Picollo with Wendey Broomhall)
Terminillo into Autumn '44 thru april '45 stay in a luxurious ski resort built by Mussolini
Naples? Replacement depot 224 to train replacements
War over
Both German speakers, Freddy Pieren and Robert Galaher are both stationed in Austria. Robert in small town.
U.S. Army Ski team. Trains in Garmisch-Partenkirchen Germany. Races in Zermatt and Andermatt Switzerland, Chamonix France, Cortina Italy, Zell am See Austria 1946
Honorably Discharged 1946
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Matthew Galaher may be contacted via e-mail at galaher@mac.com
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