GALATI, RALPH W.

Name: Ralph W. Galati
Rank/Branch: O2/United States Air Force
Unit:433rd TFS
Date of Birth: 22 March 1948
Home City of Record: Chester PA
Date of Loss: 16 February 1972
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 170900 North 1064600 East
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F4D
Missions: 69
Other Personnel in Incident: William Schwertfeger, returnee, pilot

Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or more of the following: raw
data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA
families, published sources, interviews.

REMARKS: 730328 RELEASED BY DRV

SOURCE: WE CAME HOME copyright 1977
Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret), Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor
P.O.W. Publications, 10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602
Text is reproduced as found in the original publication (including date and
spelling errors).
UPDATE - 09/95 by the P.O.W. NETWORK, Skidmore, MO

RALPH W. GALATI
1st Lieutenant- United States Air Force
Shot Down: February 16, 1972
Released: March 28,1973

Date of Birth: 22 March 1948.

Place: Darby, Pennsylvania.

Schools: St. James High School, Chester, Pennsylvania. Graduated 1966. St.
Joseph's College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Graduated 1970 with a B.S.
degree in English.

Military Service: Navigator Training, Mather AFB from May 1970 to March
1971. F-4 R.T.U. George AFB from March 1971 to September 1971. Southeast
Asia Tour, Ubon RTAFB, 25th T.F.S., 69 combat missions, member Wolf FACfast
FAC Program. Shot down 16 February 1972 flying F-4D. Released 28 March
1973.

Family: Married former Rosemary Hatten on 26 December 1970. One child:
daughter, Christine Marie born on 10 February 1972.

My period of captivity served as an awakening for me. I grew to understand
myself better - especially during my 75 days in solitary confinement. I now
appreciate things more fully - my family, my work, and life in general.
Looking into myself, I saw my faults and my weaknesses and tried to overcome
them. But I could not do it completely on my own. Prayer, and a renewed,
strengthened faith in God were my foundations. Living and loving life to the
fullest, and helping my family to do this with me, is my main ambition. I
consider myself quite fortunate, since I was lucky enough to come home. Many
of our family and friends did not. I have an opportunity available to me
that very few human beings are permitted-the chance to begin life anew, "A
second chance." Believe me, nothing is more precious than our American way
of life. We are fortunate to live in the land of freedom, an intangible too
often taken for granted. For me it is now a time for thanksgiving and a
time to share with you all the freedom, happiness, and peace in our American
way of life.

December 1996
Ralph and Rosemary reside in Pennsylvania.

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