Wesley J. Gallup
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Wesley J. Gallup entered the Army on January, 1941.
He served as a Sergeant and Infantryman in the weapons platoon of Company C of 133rd Infantry Regiment of the 34th Infantry Division in North Ireland, England, North Africa and Italy.
He attended amphibious and commando training was in England in October of 1942. In January, 1943 he was shipped to Oran, Algeria and east to Tunisia as part of General Omar Bradley's II U.S. Army Corps under the British 1st Army.
"The enemy was the German Afrika Corps under Field Marshal Irwin Rommel. We got our first taste of combat near Sbeitla, Tunisia when we ran into German patrols. Between January and May, 1943 we took part in four major battles (Kef-el-amar, Fondouk Pass, Hill 609 and Eddekhilla) as well as numerous small engagements.
When the Germans surrendered in May, we spent about a month collecting German and Italian trucks, tanks, guns and ammunition and bringing it to a central depot.
During the fighting in North Africa, the Division had 4,254 casualties, many of whom were from my Company. In June, 1943 we moved west to Sida-bel-Abbis in Algeria and started training again.
In September we made an amphibious landing at Saleno beach in Italy, south of Naples. As we pushed north through Italy we were engaged in endless small skirmishes and major battles with the Germans.
During September to December, 1943, the Company suffered many casualties and every few weeks we would receive new replacements.
Wounded Dec. 5, 1943 near the village of Castle Nueva, Italy (near Monte Casino) by an exploding mortar shell. Wounded in right leg, right arm and chest.
Operated on leg at the 109th Field Hospital and in a cast for 3 months. Spent 8 months in 5 army hospitals and sent back to the States in March, 1944.
Out of hospital in September and sent to Fort Sam Houston, Texas to be an instructor for infantry training. Program phased out and I was sent to a reassignment center in Miami Beach, Florida;"
Mr. Gallup was awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge, European-African-Middle East Campaign Medal, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal.
He was honorably discharged July 5,1945 at Jefferson Barracks, Mo.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 86.
