St Ignatius High School - Ignatius Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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yssd 'Jia i 'QAWAY B0 RIDERS? If it's something unusual, even to the point of breaking a 129-year-old record, look to an Ignatian to do it. And that is just what Captain Dan V. Gallery, U. S. N., did. Not since 1815 has the United States Navy cap- tured an enemy man-of-war on the high seas -that is, not until Iune 3, 1945. Daniel Gallery attended St. Ignatius High School twenty-one years ago. He was active in athletics, and was particularly adept in football and track. An indication of his scholastic abilities is the fact that, after leaving St, Ignatius, he entered the United States Naval Academy and successfully com- pleted the course of studies there. The story of Captain Gallery's record- breaking episode really started on April 9, 1945, when the small task force under his command spotted and sank a German U- boat While on a routine anti-submarine patrol. The captain of the submarine, one of the aces of the Nazi underseas fleet, and the crew, all abandoned ship in complete con- fusion without making any attempt to fight

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Bill Wilkinson, co-editor of the Prep, writes the first in a series of four articles on our notable alumni back. The surprised Americans realized too late that if they had boarded the vessel immediately they could have captured it along with much valuable information. Cap- tain Gallery resolved that the next time an opportunity presented itself he would send a boarding party. Even though at the time the plan ranked with a Buck Rogers adven- ture, boarding parties were trained. Later in May of that same year Gallery's task force proceeded to a position off the west coast of the Cape Verde Islands to take up anti-submarine patrol. The job was for the most part monotonous. There is always plenty of action aboard a destroyer once a sub has been picked up on the sound gear and attackedg but until that bustling moment there is nothing to do except to search the 'seas endlessly. There had been many false alarms during that month. So when the destroyer Chatelain reported a possible sound-contact on the morning of Iune 3, there was no great excite- ment. But a few moments later the contact was verified, and the force swung into im- mediate action. 'The Chatelain, supported by two Wildcat fighters from the Guadalcanal, Captain Gallery's flagship, quickly disabled the U-boat. As the sub surfaced, Captain Gallery, ordered his ships to fire their smaller calibre guns only. Quickly they swept the decks clean without inflicting any serious damage on the sub's hull. As fast as the crew came on deck they plunged overboard, One of the enemy was killed-the only casualty suffered by either side. As the last of the Nazis disappeared over the side, the Americans ceased firing, and the old Naval command Boarders away! echoed over the Guadalcanal. The boarding party pulled alongside the sub, leaped aboard, and went below ready for battle with any remaining Nazis. They found the ship deserted but rapidly filling with water. Quickly closing all the hatches. they stood by for further orders. Meanwhile, the destroyer Pillsbury was moving up to take the sub in tow. As the American ship eased up to the helpless U- boat, a wave sent it crashing against the submarine. The Pillsbury was disabled by the blow, for a large hole was punched into its hull. The Pillsbury signalled the Guadal- canal that the U-boat needed a tow to stay afloat. And as the sun set that day, its flaming rays played on an American flag waving over the U-505 as it lay in tow with an American aircraft carrier, a symbol of American victory. Next morning, Captain Gallery, who had been looking for an excuse to go aboard the submersible, went into the captured vessel to investigate an alleged booby-trap. It was feared that the rear hatch had been wired to explosive charges. Captain Gallery satis- fied himself that the fears were unfounded and opened the hatch. There was no explo- sion. With the whole of the sub now opened to them, the Yank seamen were able to make necessary repairs and to tow the prize to port. Washington was notified, and at once a fleet tug was sent to take over the job of towing. An oiler steamed up bring- ing much-needed fuel. Captain Gallery's task force now changed its course and headed for Bermuda. There the submarine was turned over to the authorities at the United States Naval Base. The prize was safe in American hands.