WALTER L. GALSON PAPERS

Walter L. Galson (1918-1994) was born in Nuremberg, Germany and grew up in southern Bavaria and Austria. As a teenager, he developed an early interest in mountaineering and excelled in ski racing and mountain climbing. While living in Munich, Germany, Galson encountered Adolph Hitler on several occasions. He was once congratulated by Hermann Goering for his performance during a ski race. Assigned to join a mountain battalion of the German Army, Galson decided to study in America, and received a deferment. An uncle sponsored nineteen-year-old Galson, who moved to the United States in 1937. He lived briefly in Tennessee and later attended the University of Michigan.

While Galson studied in America, troubles beset his family. Although Galson's father had been decorated by Austrian Emperor Franz Josef for heroic service in the Austrian Army during World War I, the Nazis imprisoned him briefly at the Dachau concentration camp in 1938 due to his Jewish heritage. In 1939, Galson’s family was permitted to emigrate to England, where his mother was killed during German bombing attacks in 1940.

Though denied an opportunity to enlist in the American Army as a non-citizen, Galson discovered that he could volunteer to be drafted. He was called up for service in October 1941 and assigned to the artillery school at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. However, his extensive mountaineering background quickly earned him a transfer to the then newly formed 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment, which he joined at Fort Lewis, Washington.

Galson participated in the Kiska Island invasion in 1943. He also trained at Camp Hale, Colorado and Camp Swift, Texas. During combat operations in Italy, he was awarded the Silver Star Medal for gallantry. In addition, he received a Bronze Star Medal and was wounded in action. Galson also received the British Military Medal, one of Great Britain's highest awards for enlisted soldiers. King George VI of England presented the medal, and Galson was the only member of the 10th Mountain Division to be so honored.

Following the War, Galson graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor's degree as well as a master's degree in political science. Later, he did graduate work in economics at the University of London. Galson worked for twenty-five years as an information systems specialist for the Department of the Army. He was very active with the National Association of the 10th Mountain Division, serving as Washington D.C. chapter president, National Association executive vice president and as national historian. He and his wife, Jean Pell Galson, had two children. Galson died of cardiac arrest at the age of 77 on August 28, 1994 at his home in Alexandria, Virginia.