TFH 10/1-31: Major Robert E. Galer, USMC

Robert Edward Galer was born on October 24, 1913 in Seattle, Washington. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1935 and began elimination flight training locally at a Naval Reserve base.  On July 1, 1936, he received a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps and then reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida for completion of his training as a Naval Aviator.

During the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Galer was stationed with Marine Fighting Squadron 211 (VMF-211) on Oahu, Hawaii. In May 1942 then Major Galer took command of Marine Fighting Squadron 224 (VMF-224).

Galer's squadron flew during the Guadalcanal Campaign from Henderson Field on the island. In August and September 1942, the commander of another Marine squadron, Major John Lucian Smith, received the Medal of Honor for his courage, skill, and leadership in fending off the Japanese enemy in the skies.

For his own valor above and beyond the normal call of duty, including personally destroying eleven enemy aircraft, Major Galer was also decorated with our Nation's highest honor.


From Military Times' Hall of Valor:

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Major Robert Edward Galer (MCSN: 0-5253), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous heroism and courage above and beyond the call of duty as leader of Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-FOUR (VMF-224), Marine Air Group TWENTY-THREE (MAG-23), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in aerial combat with enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands area during the month of October 1942. Leading his squadron repeatedly in daring and aggressive raids against Japanese aerial forces, vastly superior in numbers, Major Galer availed himself of every favorable attack opportunity, individually shooting down 11 enemy bomber and fighter aircraft over a period of 29 days. Though suffering the extreme physical strain attendant upon protracted fighter operations at an altitude above 25,000 feet, the squadron under his zealous and inspiring leadership shot down a total of 27 Japanese planes. His superb airmanship, his outstanding skill and personal valor reflect great credit upon Major Galer's gallant fighting spirit and upon the U.S. Naval Service.

Alternate Version, from Medal of Honor Citations for World War II (G-L) [less clear as to dates]:


GALER, ROBERT EDWARD

Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Marine Corps, Marine Fighter Sqdn. 244. Place: Solomon Islands Area. Entered service at: Washington. Born: 23 October 1913, Seattle, Wash. Other Navy awards: Navy Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross. Citation: For conspicuous heroism and courage above and beyond the call of duty as leader of a marine fighter squadron in aerial combat with enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands area. Leading his squadron repeatedly in daring and aggressive raids against Japanese aerial forces, vastly superior in numbers, Maj. Galer availed himself of every favorable attack opportunity, individually shooting down 11 enemy bomber and fighter aircraft over a period of 29 days. Though suffering the extreme physical strain attendant upon protracted fighter operations at an altitude above 25,000 feet, the squadron under his zealous and inspiring leadership shot down a total of 27 Japanese planes. His superb airmanship, his outstanding skill and personal valor reflect great credit upon Maj. Galer's gallant fighting spirit and upon the U.S. Naval Service.

Major Galer also received the British Empire's Distinguished Flying Cross for the same period.

Galer served throughout World War II and also flew combat missions during the Korean War. He was shot down over enemy territory in Korea on August 2, 1952 and evaded capture for three days before his rescue by a Navy helicopter. (The helicopter pilot, LTJG Harold O. McEachern, was decorated with the Navy Cross for the rescue)

He retired from the Marine Corps as a Brigadier General on July 31, 1957. His other personal decorations included the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and two Distinguished Flying Crosses. He passed away on June 27, 2005. A contemporaneous obituary (along with his headstone) indicates that he was also decorated at some point with the Navy Cross, but I could not find a citation for it or other substantiation; an award of the Navy Cross is not reflected in either Wikipedia or the Military Times database.

Brigadier General Galer today rests in peace at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas.

His World War II-era squadron, today known as Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 224 (VMFA-224), flies the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet as part of Marine Aircraft Group 31 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. They are home based at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in South Carolina.