JOSEPH J. GALANTE, PO1/C, born Jan. 8, 1925 in Philadelphia, joined the USN on Jan. 18, 1942 and was assigned to the USS Washington in March 1942. Stationed on 20mm machine gun, 9th Div. and achieved the rank of first class petty officer. Served on the USS Washington for 43 months during the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign, and discharged Sept. 9, 1945 and received 15 Battle Stars. His memorable experience includes the ship being attacked by Jap kamikaze planes. He married Rita, Nov. 25, 1950 and they have two children, Joe Jr. and Rita and six grandchildren. He established his own business, (roofing and siding) and is now semi-retired. His parents are immigrants from Italy. They raised a family of 12 children, eight boys and four girls. Six of the boys were in the Armed Forces, two in the Army, two in the USN and two in the Marines. His war stories are unending. He remembers playing checkers with Capt. Lee and the loyalty the men had for the Washington, each other and those wild shore leaves. Obituaries Published in Philadelphia Inquirer  |
GROVER W. GALE, BM1/C, born Jan. 14, 1916 in Jacob, IL, joined the USN July 1939 and was assigned to the USS Washington May 15, 1941. He served with 2nd Div as BM1c and was aboard for all major action.
His memorable experience was the sinking of battleship Kirishima. Gale was discharged July 15, 1947 and was recalled for Korea Oct. 5, 1950 and discharged Jan. 2, 1952 with 26 years service. He married Helen W. Miller April 1, 1944 and they have two daughters, one son and one grandchild. He retired from United Cal Poly Bank in 1978. Gale passed away Sept. 18, 1994. |
WILLIAM F. "BILL" GALVIN, FC3/C, born July 4, 1925, Boston, MA, enlisted in the USN Dec. 6 ,1942, and attended boot camp at Newport, RI. He was assigned to the Fire Control Div. aboard the USS Washington in the summer of 1943.
While on board Washington his watch stations and battle stations were mostly second battery gun directors. He participated in all major action and earned nine Battle Stars. Galvin transferred from Washington to destroyer duty (Bailey) January 1946. Discharged July 1946 with an FC3/c rating. He was recalled and served in Korea, destroyer duty (Beattv), earning two Battle Stars until discharged February 1952. He is married and has six daughters: Carol, Brenda, Jean, June and Donna and Ellen, one granddaughter and five grandsons. Employed as fire fighter at Boston, MA, 13 years; fuel oil company owner operator, 10 years; technical service manager and field engineer with General Binding Co., 21 years. |
MARCEL L. GARCIA, F1/C, born June 1, 1925 in Jemes, NM, joined the USN Oct. 22, 1943 in Santa Fe, NM, and went to boot camp in San Diego, CA. He attended Class A School for eight weeks, then served as security guard at Terminal Island prison camp for a month. Shipped to Pearl Harbor, HI where he boarded the USS Washington for a tour of duty from May 1944 to June 1945, serving as GQ #5 turret, 5' powder room loader #3 Fireroom B Div. When they went to Seattle, WA for repairs the war ended. From there they sailed to Panama Canal and onto Philadelphia Navy Yard where he left the ship to go to Shoemaker, CA for his discharge on Dec. 26, 1945. After that he finished high school in Sante Fe.
His memorable experiences include kamikaze, explosion behind a fantail and he got wet. He was awarded eight Battle Stars from South Pacific, American Defense, Good Conduct, Asiatic Pacific w/6 Bronze Stars, and Philippine Liberation w/two stars. He married Margaret and they raised two boys and two girls. He worked at a sawmill for five years, auto electric service five years, then went to work al Kirtland AFB for 29 years as a mechanic until he retired in January 1986 as a ground support inspector. |
JOHN FILLMORE GASKILL, BTC, born Feb. 18, 1916 in Wanchese, NC. Joined the USN Dec. 10, 1934. After recruit training at Norfolk. VA, he served in USS Ranger, Colorado and Kilty. Transferred to USS Washington pre-commission detail in February 1941.
Most memorable experiences was the night action Nov. 15. 1942 with the sinking of the Japanese battleship Kirishima and collision with USS Indiana in February 1944. He was in all actions in which the USS Washington participated. He was awarded the American Defense, FAME and Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Campaign, Russian convoys. Liberation Philippine and Guam, Good Conduct. Transferred November 1945 to shore duty, later serving in USS Sierra, Wyandot and Antares. Transferred to Fleet Reserve June 17, 1957, ending 22 1/2 years active service. Employed by Vitro Engineering, US Army and Department of Defense. He retired in 1970. He married Dorothy Broderson May 16, 1938 and they have two daughters, Joan and Jean. |