Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Dean E. Galles Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 2nd Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division
- Location of Service: Attu Island (Aleutian Islands); Kwajalein Island (Marshall Islands); Leyte Island (Philippines); Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands)
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/76663
After training in the Mojave Desert with the expectation of heading to North Africa, service on Attu came as a shock to Captain Dean Galles. Landing at Massacre Bay in the spring of 1943, he coped with trenchfoot and inadequate supplies before engaging in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy in the Battle of Attu in May, 1943, during which he was bayoneted four times. After a brief respite in Hawaii, later service brought further injuries: his unit saw combat on Kwajalein and Leyte, where he contracted dengue fever, and Okinawa, where he was shot. In 2005, he returned to Attu as part of a documentary film project, an experience that he characterizes as "eerie" but rewarding.
Interview / Recording
Transcript
Share
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PlayReceiving orders to proceed to San Francisco; issued cold weather gear; finally receiving orders to Attu. 00:06:08.2 - 00:08:30.8
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PlayArrival in the Aleutians; landing at Massacre Bay; not having proper gear; his feet turning black with mold; effects of sleeping on cold, wet ground. 00:09:54.5 - 00:17:06.2
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PlayEncountering the enemy; thinking at first they were replacements; bayoneted; going to the field hospital. 00:17:58.0 - 00:21:49.3
About this Item
Title
- Dean E. Galles Collection
Names
- Galles, Dean E.
- Seifert, Chris
- Montana PBS
- Seifert, Christin
Home State
- Montana
Headings
- - Galles, Dean E.
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 2nd Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division
- Location of Service: Attu Island (Aleutian Islands); Kwajalein Island (Marshall Islands); Leyte Island (Philippines); Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands)
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Dates of Service: 1941-1946
- Entrance into Service: Commissioned
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2007-08-12)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of video recording (collected 2007-08-12)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/76663
Cite as
- Dean E. Galles Collection (AFC/2001/001/76663), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- online text
- video
Additional Metadata Formats
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Attu Island (Aleutian Islands)
- Kwajalein Island (Marshall Islands)
- Leyte Island (Philippines)
- Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands)