Paul Galanti

Paul Galanti was born in Lodi, New Jersey on July 11, 1939 and raised in an Army family. He graduated from Valley Forge Military Academy in 1957 and the U.S. Naval Academy in 1962. He married his wife Phillis in August 1963. He was assigned to the Navy Light Jet Attack Squadron 216 (VA-216) based aboard the carrier USS Hancock. On June 17, 1966 on his 97th combat mission, Lieutenant Commander Galanti's A-4C Skyhawk was hit after an attack on a railroad siding near Vinh, North Vietnam and although he could see the rescue destroyers off-shore, his plane went out of control before he could reach them and he was taken prisoner. He was released from prison nearly 7 years later on February 12, 1973. He was medically retired from the Navy in 1983.