World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Charles Gala
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
McKeesport, Pennsylvania
Honored By
His Grandchildren
ENTERED THE ARMY IN MAY 1943 AT FORT MEADE, MARYLAND. AFTER BASIC TRAINING IN MIAMI, FLORIDA AND ARMAMENT TRAINING IN ST. ANSELM'S COLLEGE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, HE WAS GIVEN THE CHOICE OF PILOT OR GUNNER. NOT WANTING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BEING A PILOT, HE CHOSE BEING A GUNNER. BEING A SMALLER GUY, HE WAS PERFECT AS A TAIL GUNNER. SIX MORE MONTHS OF TRAINING, FIRST AT LOWRY FIELD IN DENVER THEN LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA. HE COMPLETED 28 BOMBING RUNS OVER EUROPE. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE 495TH BOMB SQUADRON, 344TH BOMB GROUP. HE FLEW BOMBING RUNS OVER NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE. HIS MEDALS INCLUDE THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AIR MEDAL WITH 3 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, MERITORIOUS UNIT AWARD, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE STARS AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.