Navy Federal Credit Union

Joseph GalleIII attended Mississippi College where he received the B.A. in 1954. He attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, earning the Bachelor of Divinity in 1961. Galle served as the pastor of First Baptist Church of Larose, Louisiana, a church for which he was the first pastor when the church was built in 1956. In 1961 he was commissioned a U.S. Army chaplain and served at Fort Bliss, Texas, and had several assignments in Germany (1963-1967), before returning to the states to Fort Polk, Louisiana. In 1969 he served with the 25th Infantry Division Artillery in Cu Chi, Vietnam. His service in Vietnam involved regular services for soldiers at fire support bases around and near Cu Chi. Daily flights to fire support bases and back to Cu Chi represented the focus of his work in Vietnam. Chaplain Galle was awarded the Silver Star for heroism for his actions during an overnight attack on one of the fire support bases. Selected at the Chaplains School to serve on the ChaplainÕs Board, Galle received additional schooling. Receiving an M.A. in Sociology from Long Island University in 1972 and the Master of Theology in 1973 from Princeton Theological Seminary, he served on the U.S. Army Chaplains Board (1973-1976), and as editor of the ÒMilitary Chaplains Review JournalÓ from July 1974-September 1976. He then served as Division Chaplain at Camp Casey, Seoul, Korea (1976-1977) before returning once more to Fort Polk, Louisiana, where he retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1981.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Major (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Regiment:

    Division Artillery

    Division:

    25th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    June 1969

    Headquarters, 25th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 9071 (July 12, 1969)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major (Chaplain’s Corps) Joseph Ernest Galle, III, United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as a Chaplain with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, Division Artillery, 25th Infantry Division, in action on 7 June 1969, in the Republic of Vietnam. While established at Fire Support Base CROOK, elements of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery came under an intense attack from a large enemy force. Although enemy rounds were impacting throughout the entire area, Chaplain Galle fearlessly moved through the enemy kill zone giving moral support to his comrades. When several men were wounded, Chaplain Galle, with complete disregard for his own safety, fearlessly exposed himself to the deadly fire as he moved to the side of the injured and comforted them as they were being treated. His valorous actions were directly responsible for the successful defense of the fire support base. Chaplain Galle’s bravery, aggressiveness, and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 25th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.