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Daniel Frederick Gallagher
DANIEL FREDERICK GALLAGHER
Birth Dec. 13, 1947
Hometown Dodgeville, Wisconsin
Parents Stanley L. and Jane M. (Bilkey) Gallagher
Military branch Marine Corps
Early Life
Daniel Gallagher was born on Dec. 13, 1947 in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, to Stanley L. and Jane M. (Bilkey) Gallagher. He had two brothers, Stanley and Donald, and two sisters, Randi and Lois.
The Gallagher family lived in Blanchardville, Wisconsin. Gallagher attended Blanchardville High School and was a member of the Class of 1966. He was a member of the Blanchardville High School Letterman’s Club and was a catcher for the Blanchardville Home Talent Baseball Team. He was a member of the Blanchardville Lutheran Church. He had a fiancée, Lisbeth Ann Francis.
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Gallagher was a student at UW-Platteville from 1966 until 1969, majoring in business administration. While at Platteville, he was a member of the Lambda Sigma Pi Fraternity, the soccer team, and the Letterman’s Club. He was also a member of the Pioneer Glee Club.
Military
Gallagher enlisted in the Marine Corps in July 1969 and trained at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California. He graduated from recruit training as a platoon honor man in Dress Blues and was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Private First Class. Upon the completion of infantry training, he was ordered to Vietnam, arriving on May 9, 1970.
In Vietnam, he was assigned to the Combined Action Platoon 2-72, Combined Action Company 2-7, 2nd Combined Action Group, III Marine Amphibious Force with the infantry specialty of mortarman. Before reporting to his unit, he attended the 2-week Combined Action School and the 4-week Vietnamese Language School. On Sept. 10, 1970, while operating in Hoa Vang District, Quang Nam Province, Lance Corporal Gallagher was killed when shouldering a light antiarmor weapon accidentally exploded. Another Marine was killed and four others were wounded as well as a Vietnamese Kit Carson Scout.
Services for Lance Corporal Gallagher were held in Blanchardville with burial in Graceland cemetery in Blanchardville.
Among Lance Corporal Gallagher’s awards are the Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 2 service stars, Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal (Second Class), Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Expert Rifle Badge.
Daniel Gallagher’s name appears on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. on panel W7, line 52.
