175th Infantry Regiment

PFC Joseph P. Galati Killed in Action, 1944

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Joseph Phillip Galati was born on 15 August 1924, in Marion, Ohio. His parents are Charles Galati & Rose Bonham. Charles Galati immigrated from Italy. Joseph P. Galati attended school at Edison Junior High. Joseph was employed at American Malleable Casting Company, prior to his entering service. Joseph married Juanita (Conn) on 26 January 1943, in Marion, Ohio.

Joseph P. Galati entered service on 22 March 1943, at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana. Joseph attended basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC). PFC Galati was sent over seas on 21 March 1944, where he served with the 175th Infantry, 29th Infantry Division “Blue and Gray Division.” PFC Galati was first wounded during the Battle for Saint-Lô in Normandy, on 25 June 1944. Records indicate that he was treated for shrapnel wounds to his elbow and posterior thorax. He was treated in a hospital in England for about a month.

PFC Joseph P. Galati returned to combat and in less than a month was again injured. He was injured on 27 August 1944, near Le Cloitre, Plouzané during the Battle for Brest, France. His injuries were again from artillery shell fragments. This time his injuries were to the thorax and abdomen. His injuries were fatal and he died on 9 September 1944, less than two weeks after being injured. He died in France.
PFC Joseph P. Galati was first buried in Europe. In 1948, his remains were disinterred and returned to Marion, Ohio, for final rest. His remains were returned in December of 1948, aboard the U. S. A. T. Lieutenant James E. Robinson. PFC Joseph P. Galati is buried in the Marion Cemetery.

Joseph P. Galati is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park, in Marion, Ohio; on the west wall of the Marion County Courthouse; and on the World War II Veterans Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery.

Pvt. Harold R. Lessig Dies in Service, 1943

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Harold Ross Lessig was born on 2 January 1920, along with his twin brother, Garold Ross Lessig. Their parents are Arthur E. & Ida Mary (Mason) Lessig of Green Camp. Harold was employed as a repairman at Universal Cooler Corporation, Marion, Ohio. Harold entered service 25 October 1941, at Fort Hayes, Columbus, Ohio. He received training at Camp Wheeler, Georgia; Fort Knox, Kentucky; and Camp Shelby, Mississippi. He was stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey, prior to leaving for overseas duty in March of 1943.

Pvt. Harold R. Lessig was serving in England, with the 175th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division, “Blue and Gray Division.” His parents learned that, on 8 November 1943, he was injured and was being treated at a British Naval Hospital in Dartmouth, England.
Pvt. Harold R. Lessig died of his accidental injuries on 10 November 1943. Pvt. Harold R. Lessig is buried in Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Cambridgeshire, England.
Harold R. Lessig is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park, in Marion, Ohio; on the west wall of the Marion County Courthouse; on the World War II Veterans Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery; and on the Universal Cooler Corp. Honor Roll.

An interesting note:
Harold and Garold Lessig were twins, from Marion, Ohio. Garold served as a Sergeant when Harold was killed. In my research I discovered there were also a Harold and Garold Lessig (twins), from Florida. Both of these Lessig twins were killed during World War Two. In fact, Harold died first and died in his brothers arms. Garold died about three and a half months later, in combat.
It seems too coincidental, but they had different parents and came from different states. But the Florida twins appear to have been survived by another set of twin brothers, as well as another brother and five sisters.