William Wylie Galt
Captain, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
World War II

Captain William Wylie Galt (19 December 1919 - 29 May 1944) was a U.S. Army officer who was posthumously awarded the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during World War II.

William Wylie Galt was born on 19 December 1919 in Geyser, MT. He joined the Army from Stanford, MT. On 29 May 1944, Galt was serving as a Captain in the 168th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division. On that day at Villa Crocetta, Italy, he personally commanded an attack against German positions. He manned a machine gun on a tank destroyer at the front of the assault force, staying at his post in the vehicle's turret and continuing to lead his men despite intense hostile fire. He was killed while still manning his machine gun and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on 1 February 1945.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, 168th Infantry, 34th Infantry Division.

Place and date: At Villa Crocetta, Italy, 29 May 1944.

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.

Death and Burial

Captain William Wylie Galt was killed in action on 29 May 1944. He is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Great Falls, MT.