Former POW and 732d Officer returns to the Freedom Wing

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Terrence Clyburn and Tech. Sgt. Jonathan E. White
  • 514th Air Mobility Wing public affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE DIX LAKEHURST --  
Without realizing it, all the countless hours of training kicks-in. Making a 'mayday' call, securing the harness and preparing for ejection were automatic for the 23 year-old weapon systems officer from Philadelphia and his pilot who were flying an F-4D Phantom over the jungles of North Vietnam on Feb. 16, 1972.

Ralph Galati, a former weapon systems officer and Vietnam War prisoner of war, shared his story with members of the Freedom wing on his birthday at commander's call here Mar. 22.

"The realization of what happened and what is going to happen doesn't hit until you are ejecting and floating down to the ground," said Galati.

Galati and his pilot survived a surface to air missile hit and became POWs. Despite enduring beatings, interrogations, lack of food and sleep deprivation while in captivity, he managed to maintain a positive attitude and return home to his family.

Galati shared his story as a testament of resiliency and ingenuity of American troops during and after the Vietnam War. A small glance into his life can possibly illustrate these attributes.

With his parents and the majority of his family from Italy, Galati was a first generation American citizen with little knowledge about college or military life. He was the first person in his family attend college, graduating in 1970. Later that year he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force through ROTC. Shortly thereafter, he married his wife of 45 years.

Galati was on his 69th combat mission when they were shot down. He survived near death incidents multiple times that day.

"I look back and realize I took a lot of risks," said Galati."I should've died a couple of times that day."
His daughter, Christine, was born just six days before he was shot down.

"When I left for Vietnam, my wife was six months pregnant so my daughter was born while I was there (in Vietnam)," said Galati.

After being captured, he was sent to the Hanoi Hilton prison camp. His role as a military officer changed from a weapon systems officer to a POW. As a 23 year-old POW, he discovered many things about survival and himself that he could not have learned in training. One of his new missions was to follow the rules of the code of conduct. Another mission was to update POWs on current events, especially those captured prior to 1968 who did not realize Americans landed on the moon.

U.S. senator and GOP presidential candidate John McCain was also at Hanoi. Galati spent about a total of 30 minutes with McCain in camp; however, McCain who was released before Galati contacted Galati's wife and gave her an update on his status. Another individual he met in camp was a Navy service member named Doug Hegdahl. Hegdahl pretended to be mentally slow and weak. He eventually was not looked upon as a threat to the North Vietnamese. Upon his early release, Hegdahl was able to memorize the contact information of over 200 POWs and to provide their family members with updates on their condition. 

After being imprisoned for 405 days Galati was released. He was reunited with his wife and saw his daughter for the first time on April 2, 1973. Unfortunately, he was re-introduced into society at a time when post traumatic syndrome disorder was an unfamiliar term. He did not believe the war and being a POW changed him, but people close to him like his wife disagreed and noticed a slight change.

"We all thought we were fine." said Galati. "Unless something was obviously wrong with you or you asked for help, you were sent on your way."

Today, Galati is 67 years-old and works for St. Joseph's University office of Veterans services. He helps disabled Veterans start their own businesses. He openly talks about his experiences and how he has overcome issues with perseverance. 

"Sometimes you will be put to tests that seem beyond your ability to withstand," said Galati. "Your make up, such as faith, family and training will allow you to endure some things beyond your normal capabilities."