29 May

CAPT. WILLIAM WYLIE GALT
168th Infantry, 34th ID
Villa Crocetta, Italy
29 May 1944.

While Serving as Battalion S3, Capt. Galt’s  unit was involved in an intense battle against enemy tanks and Infantry. After 2 unsuccessful attacks it appeared the tide of battle was turning against the Americans.

Capt. Galt, of his own volition, went forward to assess the situation and took command of the assaulting Americans.

At the risk of his own life, Capt. Galt jumped on the deck of a tank destroyer and led the attack from the front.

Capt. Galt manned the .30-cal turret gun as he led his soldiers into battle. He immediately identified an enemy 77mm. anti-tank gun, and destroyed it.

Standing fully exposed, on the deck of the tank, the young Captain moved forward firing his machinegun and chucking hand grenades into the enemy trenches.

In spite of the hail of sniper and machinegun rounds ricocheting all around him as the tank destroyer advance, Capt. Galt maneuvered into a position where he could trap approx 40 enemy Soldiers in their trench.

When they refused to surrender, Capt. Galt dispatched every single one of them to their god with his .30-cal.

Galt’s tank destroyer was struck a few minutes later by an 88mm round. Capt. Galt fell mortally wounded across his machinegun. He had personally killed more than  40 enemy soldiers and wounded many more.

He led from the front.