Thread by @graemeknows

William James Eastty, the 5th child of immigrants, was born in Boston, MA on #OTD in 1918 while the city was in the midst of a horrendous pandemic. A year later, he was adopted by a small town family in Swanzey, NH and his destiny was set. A #WWII #Veterans thread.

He was baptized in 1919 and given a name that would eventually be entered onto #WWII military monuments in New England and the Philippines: 𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘱 𝘕𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭. By all accounts, he was a wonderful boy who smiled a wide grin every time a camera appeared.

In 1931, Gale attended @YMCA @camptakodah. For 3 summers, he enjoyed a wide range of activities such as swimming, archery, and sailing along with taking classes in rustic old buildings like Hobby Nook, a former dance hall, mess hall, and bunkhouse that is still in use today.

When he graduated from Keene High in 1936, Gale wanted to settle into a small town life and work for the @USPS. “He always seems to have a good time in the classroom as well as on the athletic field," his friends wrote in the yearbook. “We know Gale will make a swell postman.”

But Gale decided to do his patriotic duty. On 29 September 1936, at a recruiting station in Fitchburg, MA, Gale enlisted in the @USNavy. He was recommended by members of his community who said that Gale was “a conscientious lad. Excellent material,” who “couldn’t be better.”

For 3 years, Gale crisscrossed the country for @USNavy basic training, Corpsmen school, and a hospital apprenticeship, arriving at Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, RI in April 1939. Soon after, he met Irene Lillian Battene. They fell in love and were married on 19 October.

Two months later, Gale, who was excelling in his medical training, was promoted to Pharmacist’s Mate 3rd Class (PhM3c) and continued to hone his important skills. In June 1940, with the war escalating, he was transferred to the Headquarters & Supply Company, 5th Marines in RI.

On 1 December 1940, his son Gale Douglas Newell was born. Being a good husband and father was important to him, so Gale took an honorable discharge from the @USNavy in March 1941 after serving his full 4 years. His duty was done.

Gale happily returned to a peaceful civilian life feeling fulfilled from his military service and excited for the family he and Irene were building. It was time to settle down into that small-town routine he always wanted. Life was good. Life had promise. The future was bright.

But #WWII got in the way of that plan, just as it did for millions of young men and women around the world. Gale was never a man to back down from a challenge. With his valuable experience and aptitude, a @USNavy career kept calling to him. It seemed inevitable.

On 7 October, Gale sent a telegram to the @USNavy requesting to reenlist as a PhM3c and be assigned shore duty the Newport Naval Hospital. The Navy replied, authorizing his reenlistment at that rank, but denying his shore duty request, noting “subject man is due for sea duty.”

Then, like a bolt, came the news of Pearl Harbor. The country was at war. The social pressure to “do your part” against fascism was stronger than ever. Gale had done his part. He did not have to go but the call to be part of something larger than yourself is hard to resist.

On 5 March 1942, with Irene’s written permission and full support, Gale reenlisted in the @USNavy. In May, he reported to the brand-new state of the art Benson-class destroyer USS 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘰𝘯 (DD-599) on the day she was commissioned at the Boston Navy Yard.

Gale marveled at the sleek ship under the command of Lieutenant Commander Douglas Harold Fox, a @NavalAcademy grad with a distinguished reputation after service in various ships and shore stations. The men loved 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘰𝘯 and their charismatic senior officer.

Gale, now promoted to PhM2c, served as a “medical field technician,” a first-aid trained sailor who dealt with the harsh reality and results of the daily dangers seen in a moving industrial plant that is a destroyer at sea.

After fitting out at Boston, 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘰𝘯 sailed to Newport, RI arriving there in June for escort patrol duty with the @USNavy's Atlantic Fleet. Meanwhile, Gale had frequent opportunities to see his beloved Irene and their baby boy. For now, at least, things appeared calm.

And yet, news from the Pacific was increasingly grim. Large air and naval reinforcements were quickly and constantly requested. The writing was on the wall and 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘰𝘯 set sail to join @USNavy Task Force 17 at Noumea, New Caledonia, on 26 September.

Around this time, Gale learned that Irene was pregnant again. He was filled with emotions as he contemplated his reality. He was overwhelmed with concern and conflict. But this was no time to turn his sights toward home. He had a job to do. He had a world to save.

From this point out, it was non-stop action for 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘰𝘯 as they performed escort duty and participated in heavy combat on the high seas. It is well known that there is no rest for the weary onboard a @USNavy destroyer.

Then, on 13 November 1942, in the midst of intense combat, a Japanese destroyer, 𝘈𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘴𝘶𝘬𝘢𝘻𝘦, slammed two torpedoes into 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘰𝘯’s side breaking her in two. Lookouts on another @USNavy ship saw her “simply disappear in fragments.” Within minutes, she was gone.

PhM2c Gale Philip Newell, who was at his battle station below decks just forward of 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘰𝘯’s engine room, was killed in action along with 163 of his shipmates. His body was never recovered and he remains entombed within the wreck at “Ironbottom sound.”

Irene, devastated from the news, was left to care for the boys. But, she was also a fighter and they would carry on and honor Gale’s memory. To this day, his rank insignia and service medals are hung in a place of pride for the family to admire.

USS 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘰𝘯’s bow, with both of her forward guns still aimed towards their heroic final fight, was discovered in 1992 by Dr. Robert Ballard, a retired @USNavy officer who famously found RMS Titanic in 1985.

“I’ll never forget our first look at 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘰𝘯,” reported Dr. Ballard. It was a sentiment that Gale had felt when he first laid eyes upon the beautiful ship in Boston.

We keep and share these stories for all who sail and serve, and especially for those who made the supreme sacrifice. Read Gale’s full story: camptakodah.org/about/history/…

@threadreaderapp please unroll