PVT Bernard F. Gallagher, 39, previously reported in January to have been MIA in Belgium since December 18th, is now reported killed in action, according to a telegram received to his parents Mr and Mrs Dennis J. Gallagher of 8 Brown St.
A letter from his company commander Capt. Joseph H. Dibert to Mrs Gallagher read as follows: “By the time you have received word from the War Department that your son, Bernard F. Gallagher, has been killed in action. Regardless of what words or phrases I manage to put together in this letter,hey won’t be adeq to the occasion. Nevertheless, I do want to express my sympathies to you for the unfortunate loss of your son. I knew Bernard quite well, and I can truthfully say he was a fine young man and a good soldier.
Bernard was in one of the gun squads of the company and his gun is one of those that was largely responsible for stalling the Germans advance in the recent counter offensive in Belgium. Your son and other members of the crew stuck to their gun to the last and were finally overpowered by sheer weight of numbers. Their action, however, delayed the enemy long enough formother American reinforcements to come up and the Nazis never advanced any further In that direction. The last that was seen of these men, they were firing rapidly at the enemy. Later, three men returned and reported that a German shell had hit their half track and gun. The three men had gotten out alive, but due to the tactical situation could not search for the rest of the crew. They were listed as missing u til a recent investigation showed them as killed on December 18, 1944. In the vicinity of Stavelot, Belgium.
In behalf of all the men and officers of my company. I extend to you a heartfelt sympathies and condolences.
Bernie Gallagher was born Sept 4, 1905 in North Walpole, NH He was overseas over a year, serving in England, France, Luxembourg and Belgium. He entered the Army Sept 1942 training at Ft. Gruber, Okla.Camp Bowie and Hood in Texas and Kansas. He was with a tank destroyer outfit of the Third Army under General Patton. Before the service he was employed at Moore and Thompson Paper Company.
