The cache was placed with permission. Please be respectful of
the area.
William Wylie Galt was a native of Geyser, Montana. He was
commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, Infantry, through the Army ROTC
program upon graduation from Montana State in the Spring of '42. He
was assigned to A/1/168 Infantry, 34th "Red Bull" Infantry
Division. He fought in North Africa and Italy and was awarded the
Silver Star for action he took during the 3rd Volturno Crossing
He was promoted to Captain and commanded Able Company [168th
Infantry] in the Anzio Beachhead. He was posted to the 1/168th
Infantry S-3 position after the Anzio Beachhead. He was in the
midst of some brutal combat throughout his career, culminating in
his being at Villa Crocetta on 29 May, 1944. At Villa Crocetta his
actions led to the relief of 2 companies of 2/168 that were pinned
down, outflanked and were being shot to pieces.
He was awarded the Purple Heart 3 times- being wounded at the
1st and 3rd Volturno River Crossings, and a 3rd time at Cervaro,
Italy.
On June 6, 1944, at Villa Crocetta, Italy, He was killed in action
and, on February 1, 1945, was posthumously awarded the Medal of
Honor.
Medal of Honor Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond
the call of duty. Capt. Galt, Battalion S3, at a particularly
critical period following 2 unsuccessful attacks by his battalion,
of his own volition went forward and ascertained just how critical
the situation was. He volunteered, at the risk of his life,
personally to lead the battalion against the objective. When the
lone remaining tank destroyer refused to go forward, Capt. Galt
jumped on the tank destroyer and ordered it to precede the attack.
As the tank destroyer moved forward, followed by a company of
riflemen, Capt. Galt manned the .30-caliber machinegun in the
turret of the tank destroyer, located and directed fire on an enemy
77mm. anti-tank gun, and destroyed it. Nearing the enemy positions,
Capt. Galt stood fully exposed in the turret, ceaselessly firing
his machinegun and tossing hand grenades into the enemy zigzag
series of trenches despite the hail of sniper and machinegun
bullets ricocheting off the tank destroyer. As the tank destroyer
moved, Capt. Galt so maneuvered it that 40 of the enemy were
trapped in one trench. When they refused to surrender, Capt. Galt
pressed the trigger of the machinegun and dispatched every one of
them. A few minutes later an 88mm shell struck the tank destroyer
and Capt. Galt fell mortally wounded across his machinegun. He had
personally killed 40 Germans and wounded many more. Capt. Galt
pitted his judgment and superb courage against overwhelming odds,
exemplifying the highest measure of devotion to his country and the
finest traditions of the U.S. Army.
To visit Captain Galt's grave go to:
N 47° 28.824 W 111° 15.669