Listening to Chick Galella talk about his birth ninety years ago brings a smile. “My mother wasn’t too happy about it. She missed New Year’s Eve,” he said. He was born January 1, 1921 in New York City. He will turn ninety-one this New Year’s Day and many are happy about that.Chick Galella has for so very long been concerned and committed to the well-being of others. He has a list of accomplishments which date back to the beginning of World War II and the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor with the 443rd Signal Corps. His span of service included five years in the Pacific theater where he reached the highest grade an enlisted man can achieve Sergeant Major. He received the Bronze Star Medal [the Nation’s 4th highest combat award] for Meritorious Service and participated in the Battle of Okinawa which was “the largest amphibious invasion of the Pacific campaign and the last major campaign of the Pacific War.”
By his own account he is most proud of one act which again reflects a commitment to others. “I was able to get the waterfront park named after my childhood friend who grew up on Beekman Avenue and was killed at Pearl Harbor. His name was John Horan and Horan’s Landing was dedicated in his memory,” he said.
