Background
Ignatius Joseph Galantin was born on 24 September 1910 in New York City, New York, United States. Son of Ignatius Peter and Mary Elizabeth (Binder) Galantin.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0912697644/?tag=2022091-20
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0252066758/?tag=2022091-20
Ignatius Joseph Galantin was born on 24 September 1910 in New York City, New York, United States. Son of Ignatius Peter and Mary Elizabeth (Binder) Galantin.
Ignatius attended Maine Township High School, Des Plaines, Illinois, and had a year of night school at the Armour Institute of Technology (now Illinois Institute of Technology) in Chicago, before his appointment to the United States Naval Academy in 1929. He received a B.S. from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1933. In 1955 he graduated from the National War College.
After graduation from the Naval Academy, he served until December 1935 as a junior watch and division officer on board USS New York (BB-34), operating with Battleship Division ONE, Battle Force. He then had submarine training at the Submarine School, New London, Connecticut, and in July 1936 joined USS Argonaut (SM-1), the largest submarine-minelayer, to serve as first lieutenant and gunner officer in the Hawaiian Islands area. In June 1940 he reported as executive officer and navigator of USS S-24 (SS-129), which was transferred to the British early in the World War II period by lend-lease agreement. In August 1942 he assumed command of the USS R-11 (SS-88). Thereafter, in June 1943 he joined USS Sculpin (SS-191) as Prospective Commanding Officer and participated in one war patrol in the Pacific area. From August 1943 until December 1944 he was in command of USS Halibut (SS-232). Halibut was severely damaged by Japanese depth charges in November 1944, so in January and February 1945 Galantin left Halibut and served as operations and gunnery officer on the Staff of Commander Submarine Squadron Ten, then flew over "the Hump" to Chungking, China for three months’ duty as Submarine Liaison Officer to the Chief of the Naval Group. During the period June to November 1945, he served as operations and gunnery officer on the Staff of Commander Submarine Task Group, Saipan. Upon his return to the United States in November 1945, he was ordered to the Staff of Commander Submarines, Atlantic Fleet, and served as personnel officer until July 1947. After duty as executive officer of USS Proteus (AS-19), a submarine tender, he served as operations and gunnery officer on the Staff of Commander Submarine Squadron Eight. He had command of Submarine Division Fifty-one in 1949, and in December of that year reported to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, Washington, D.C., where he served until July 1952 as head of the Submarine Branch, Fleet Maintenance Division. He assumed command of oiler USS Navasota (AO-106) in August 1952. The next year he commanded Submarine Squadron Seven. In 1955 he was ordered to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, where he served for two years as head of the Submarine Warfare Branch, Undersea Warfare Division. He was Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics and Administration of the Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe, stationed in Naples, Italy, from September 1957 until November 4, 1959, then reported as Commander Cruiser Division Two. In January 1961 he became Director of the Antisubmarine/Submarine Warfare Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (later redesignated Submarine Warfare Division). On February 26, 1962 he was assigned as Special Projects Office in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy, Navy Department. On March 1, 1965 he assumed duty as Chief of Naval Material. Upon the reorganization of the Navy Department, effective May 1, 1966, he was designated Chief of Naval Material, Naval Material Command.
On July 1, 1970 Admiral Galantin retired. In retirement, he published two books concerning submarines: "Take Her Deep! A Submarine Against Japan in World War II" (1988), "Submarine Admiral: From Battlewagons to Ballistic Missiles" (1997). Galantin died on July 6, 2004, at the age of 93. He was buried at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery with full military honors.
Ignatius was personally awarded the Navy Cross "For extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of the USS Halibut", the Silver Star Medal "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as Commanding Officer of USS Halibut on war patrol in enemy Japanese-controlled waters in the Pacific Area", and two Gold Stars in lieu of the second and third Silver Star Medal, the Commendation Ribbon and the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon. Galantin was awarded the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp; American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with five combat stars; the World War II Victory Medal; China Service Medal; National Defense Service Medal with bronze star; Korean Service Medal with two combat stars; and the United Nations Service Medal. He also has the Korean Presidential Unit Citation Badge and the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Badge.
Admiral Galantin was a member of the New York Society of Military and Naval Officers of the World Wars, Retired Officers Association, Naval Submarine League, American Defense Preparedness Association..
Ignatius married Virginia Elizabeth Jaeckel on June 14, 1935. They had three daughters (Mary Joy Galantin Veazey, Vivien Elizabeth Galantin Creelman, Linda), six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
