William E. Gallup
Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army

William E. Gallup was a veteran of World War II.

In September 1950, Sergeant First Class William E. Gallup was serving with Company D, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, in Korea.

On 3 September, SFC Gallup's unit was engaged with enemy forces near Haman, Korea. As leader of a heavy machine-gun section, SFC Gallup discovered one of his machine-guns threatened by an enemy force that had infiltrated through his unit's lines. SFC Gallup, armed with only a pistol and hand grenades, went forward, under intense enemy small-arms and automatic weapons fire, and killed an estimated six enemy soldiers while harassing and neutralizing the enemy until mortar fire could be adjusted on the hill. In this action, his ferocious single-handed assault on the enemy had resulted in his company being able to hold a vital position. However, SFC Gallup was Killed in Action. His courage and extraordinary heroism earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant First Class William E. Gallup (ASN: RA-37862735), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company D, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Sergeant First Class Gallup distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Haman, Korea, on 3 September 1950. As section leader of a heavy machine-gun section, Sergeant Gallup discovered one of his machine-guns threatened by an enemy force which had infiltrated through friendly lines. Sergeant Gallup, armed with only a pistol and hand grenades, went forward alone under intense enemy small-arms and automatic weapons fire with complete disregard for his own personal safety and killed an estimated six enemy soldiers, harassing and neutralizing the enemy until mortar fire could be adjusted on the hill. In this action, Sergeant Gallup gallantly sacrificed his life, but not until his ferocious single-handed assault on the enemy had resulted in his company being able to hold a vital position.

General Orders: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 388 (June 2, 1951)

Burial

Sergeant First Class William E. Gallup is buried at Cabool Cemetery in Cabool, Texas County, MO.

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