Antone R. Gallaher

Antone Renkl Gallaher (19 August 1909 – 14 October 1982) was a United States Navy captain. A decorated veteran of World War II, he earned the Navy Cross four times as commander of the submarine USS Bang in the Pacific theatre.

Antone R. Gallaher
Nickname(s)Tony
Born(1909-08-19)19 August 1909
Augusta, Georgia
Died14 October 1982(1982-10-14) (aged 73)
San Diego County, California
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1928–1929
1933–1963
RankCaptain
Commands held
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsNavy Cross (4)

Early life and education

Gallaher was born and raised in Augusta, Georgia.[1][2] He enlisted in the Navy on 6 June 1928. After serving aboard the light cruiser USS Cincinnati, Gallaher was sent to the United States Naval Academy Preparatory School in Norfolk, Virginia in October 1928. Appointed to the Naval Academy, he was discharged from active duty on 4 July 1929.[2][3] Gallaher graduated from the Naval Academy with a B.S. degree in June 1933.[2][4]

Commissioned as an ensign, Gallaher served aboard the cruiser USS Indianapolis until December 1935. Promoted to lieutenant (junior grade), he attended the Submarine School in New London, Connecticut from January to May 1936.[2][3] Gallaher later completed a course in strategy and tactics at the Naval War College in June 1953.[2][5]

Career

From June to December 1936, Gallaher served aboard the submarine USS R-11. He was then reassigned to USS S-37 in the Pacific from February 1937 to May 1939. From July 1939 to February 1942, Gallaher served aboard USS R-4 based at Naval Base Cavite in the Philippines.[2][3]

From February 1942 to April 1943, Gallaher served as the commanding officer of USS R-13 based at Key West, Florida training submarine crew members. In July 1943, he was sent to the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine to supervise the final preparation of USS Bang for her commissioning. Gallaher then served as her commanding officer from December 1943 to March 1945.[2][3] He commanded her first five war patrols, subsequently receiving the Navy Cross for each of the first four.[6][7]

From April 1949 to May 1950, Gallaher served as commander of Submarine Division 11 with his pennant on USS Tilefish. From June 1950 to July 1952, he returned to the Naval Academy to teach marine engineering, seamanship and navigation.[2][3] Gallaher was promoted to captain in January 1952.[8] From July 1953 to August 1955, he served as the commanding officer of Submarine Development Group 2, Atlantic with his pennant on USS K-1.[2][3]

From 1955 to 1956, Gallaher served as department head and professor of mathematics at the Naval Academy. He remained at the Naval Academy until 1958, serving first as secretary of the Academic Board and then as an aide to the superintendent.[2][9] From September 1958 to October 1959, Gallaher was commanding officer of the destroyer tender USS Prairie. He was then given command of Submarine Flotilla 1 until November 1960.[3][10]

From December 1960 to August 1962, Gallaher served in staff positions at the Pentagon. In September 1962, he became director of Navy recruiting for the 8th Navy Recruiting Area based in San Francisco, California. Gallaher retired from active duty on 1 July 1963.[3][11]

Personal

Gallaher was the son of Edward Joseph Gallaher and Erma (Renkl) Gallaher. He had two sisters and two brothers.[2][12]

Gallaher married Mary Catherine MacKay (31 October 1913 – 8 August 1994). They had six daughters and a son.[2][13]

After retirement, Gallaher lived in San Diego County, California. He died at a hospital there on 14 October 1982. Gallaher was cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea.[14][15]

References
  1. Lucky Bag. U.S. Naval Academy. 1933. p. 185. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  2. "Biography of Capt. Antone R. Gallaher, U.S. Navy". Military Cold War Education and Speech Review Policies: Hearings before the Special Preparedness Subcommittee of the Committee on Armed Services, U.S. Senate. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1962. pp. 1318–1319. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  3. "Antone R. Gallaher". Veteran Tributes. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  4. Register of Alumni: Graduates and Former Naval Cadets and Midshipmen. The United States Naval Academy Alumni Association, Inc. 1 July 1956. p. 318. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  5. Register of Officers 1884–1977. The United States Naval War College. 1977. p. 105. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  6. "Decorations and Citations" (PDF). All Hands. August 1945. p. 58. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  7. "Antone Renkl Gallaher". Military Times. Sightline Media Group. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  8. Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 1 January 1957. p. 15. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  9. Lucky Bag. U.S. Naval Academy. 1956. p. 30. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  10. "USS Prairie (AD-15)". NavSource Naval History. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  11. Register of Retired Commissioned and Warrant Officers, Regular and Reserve, of the United States Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 1 October 1978. p. 256. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  12. "J. Daniel Gallaher". Augusta Chronicle. 3 June 1968. p. A15. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  13. "Mary Catherine Gallaher". Death Index, 1940-1997. Sacramento, California: State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics.
  14. "Mass said for A.R. Gallaher, retired officer". Evening Tribune. San Diego, California. 27 October 1982. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  15. "Antone Renkl Gallaher". Death Index, 1940-1997. Sacramento, California: State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics.
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