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High above the clouds on January 31, 1944, 2nd Lt. James Galliher sat in the cramped front seat of a B-24 Liberator approaching Udine, Italy. The 27-year-old Lt. Galliher was assigned to the 717th Bomber Squadron, 449th Bombardment Group, and his unit’s objective was the German air base at Aviano.
Galliher’s mission was part of the Army Air Corps’ strategic bombing campaign of Europe, which began in 1943. The campaign began to bear fruit, but it came at a huge cost: by the end of World War II, some 88,000 American airmen had lost their lives, with particularly devastating casualty rates.
The bright skies over Aviano quickly turned to a black bombardment inferno as German anti-aircraft guns pounded the formations of No. 717. Since the start of the operation, the bombings had intensified and the Army Air Corps had begun to lose more and more aircrews to anti-aircraft fire. The raid on Aviano was no exception.
On this Memorial Day, I want my grandchildren to know about the Medal of Honor recipients who sacrificed and served.
Galliher’s plane, Larchin Sea Urchin Dropping about three tons of bombs on their targets, they destroyed German aircraft hangars and buildings. The crew, led by their commander, Colonel Dahl H. Alkire, returned home, but once again the sky was filled with dark and menacing clouds of anti-aircraft fire. Larchin Sea Urchin The plane was hit in the nose and went into a steep dive, causing it to spin out of control. Of the 11 people aboard the B-24 Liberator, nine parachutes were seen opening from the aircraft, including James Galliher.
FILE – Members of the American Legion Chapter 40 salute after laying a wreath during the annual Memorial Day ceremony at Memorial Park. Community groups and veterans take part in the annual Memorial Day parade and ceremony. (Photo by Paul Weaver/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
My family and I discovered a wartime photograph of my Uncle James while sorting through various items and mementos in my mother’s attic. My aunt knew exactly who he was, and that began the journey to learn more and remember his story. While it may have been fate that we found his photograph, Uncle James’ story deserves to be told, along with the stories of the countless others who lost their lives serving their country.
While his fellow crew members who survived the crash were taken prisoner and survived the war, Uncle James was initially listed as missing in action. Like many other American bomber crew members who crashed during World War II, there was never any way to know for sure whether he had been killed or not. This classification undoubtedly caused peace of mind for the surviving airmen, and even more so for their families back home, who would receive telegrams within weeks informing them that their loved ones’ fates were uncertain.
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My Uncle James was presumed dead and officially registered as a war dead until April 1945. Local newspaper articles from the time detail that after his death, my mother Margaret was awarded the Purple Heart and a mass was held in his memory at the local parish.
This Memorial Day, the most important thing we can do as Americans is to ensure that our fallen soldiers are never forgotten. This includes not only visiting their graves and memorials, but also making sure their stories are not forgotten.
They say oral history can be lost within three generations. I think this is often true for family history too. If you have children or grandchildren, it’s always worth talking to them about those in your family who served in the military or made the ultimate sacrifice. If you’re that child or grandchild, it’s a good idea to ask too. No one is at fault here, but we should never forget the fact that Memorial Day is more than just the start of summer, it’s a day to look back and remember those who came before us.
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I can think of no more exemplary citizens than my uncle, Lt. James Galliher, and the millions of others who rose up to defend our country. It is our responsibility to defend the republican values they risked their lives to defend and to honor those who died for our country. It is always our responsibility as citizens to be informed and engaged in protecting a free and prosperous America. And that starts with knowing the past of our families and our country.
To those who sacrificed so much on the altar of freedom, we owe a debt of gratitude. They should always be remembered.