Galen C. Kittleson

Following from St. Ansgar Enterprise-Journal, May 5, 2007, pg 1

Command Sergeant Major "Top" Galen Kittleson, of Toeterville was honored by the Iowa Legislature posthumously, last week, for his efforts in rescuing POWs during World War II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars. His wife, Darlene, sons Bruce and Lance, and military colleagues were among dozens of visitors on hand when the House and Senate passed a resolution honoring CSM Kittleson.

The resolution read: "Command Sgt. Major Kittleson is remembered as a warrior, a liberator and a patriot."

State Senator Amanda Ragan, D-Mason City, is quoted as having said, "Today we recognize a fellow Iowan who was a man of heroic proportions."

CSM Kittleson is credited with performing more prisoner of war raids than any other soldier. The resolution notes that he helped save 511 prisoners who were on the Bataan Death March in the Philippines during World War II."

"He ended up in some momentous situations throughout history," said his son, Army reservist, Colonel Lance Kittleson, who is the pastor for Deer Creek Lutheran Church, near Carpenter and St. Peter Lutheran Church in Toeterville.

CSM Kittleson's military career spanned more than 40 years. He served in the Alamo Scouts, which later became the U.S. Army Special Forces.

After his retirement from the military, he formed a Boy Scout troop called the Alamo Scouts. This group held their regular meetings, and rather intensive physical training, on CSM Kittleson's farm northeast of St. Ansgar. He is credited on helping many young people make something of themselves, helping to choose the correct path to follow in their lives.

April 25, 2007 12:00 am • DAN GEARINO, Courier Des Moines Bureau

DES MOINES - The Iowa Legislature saluted the memory of Galen Kittleson on Tuesday, honoring the man famous for his prisoner-of-war rescue missions dating back to World War II.

Kittleson, who lived in Toeterville in north Iowa, died last spring at age 81.

His wife, two sons and military colleagues were among the dozens of visitors on hand when the House and Senate passed a resolution honoring Kittleson.

"Today we recognize a fellow Iowan who was a man of heroic proportions," said Sen. Amanda Ragan, D-Mason City.

Kittleson is credited with performing more prisoner-of-war raids that any other soldier. The resolution notes that he helped save 511 prisoners who were on the Bataan Death March in the Philippines in World War II.

"He ended up in some momentous places throughout history," said his son, Lance Kittleson, a pastor and an Army reservist who lives in St. Ansgar.

Galen Kittleson's military service covered four decades, including active duty in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He served in the Alamo Scouts, which were a precursor to the Special Forces. After his retirement from the military, he formed a Boy Scout troop called the Alamo Scouts in St. Ansgar.

"Command Sgt. Maj. Kitttleson is remembered as a warrior, a liberator and a patriot," said the resolution.

Contact Dan Gearino at (515) 243-0138 or dan.gearino@lee.net.

Source: Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier website

St. Ansgar Enterprise-Journal -- June 2, 2007

The tombstone for C.M.S. Galen Kittleson was installed in time for this past week's Memorial Day observances at the First Lutheran Cemetery. The impressive stone, besides recognizing Kittleson, on the back side were listed the many medals he received in his outstanding military career.

The stone was paid for by billionaire and former presidential candidate H. Ross Perot.

A number of years ago, the prisoners in the Son Tay prison camp, and the soldiers who were involved in their rescue participated in a reunion, of sorts, in San Francisco. Mr. Perot paid for each attendee's expenses, transportation, hotel and meals.

A year ago another reunion was planned. However, C.M.S. Kittleson was gravely ill. When Kittleson's family told Perot that he would not be able to attend, and that his illness was terminal, Perot said he would pay for the tombstone.

Sgt. Galen C. Kittleson of St. Ansgar is a member of the Alamo Scouts, hand picked, rigorously trained, and one of the greatest outfits of World War II.

Sgt. Kittleson is one reason for their fame. Kittleson, a former 11th Airborne division paratroooper, has been a scout for 10 months, serving under the personal command of General Walter Krueger of San Antonio, Texas.

Kittleson was awarded the Silver Star for rescuing a wounded comrade of a combat patrol under flaming fire. He then received a cluster for landing from a PT boat on the Japanese infested island of Mindanao, slipping through the enemy lines and gathering information on troop strength and installations.

General Krueger personally decorated him with a Bronze Star medal after he and buddies liberated 14 members of a Dutch family and 52 Javanese prisoners after wiping out an enemy outpost.

Sgt. Kittleson was among the Americans who staged the daring raid on the Cabanatuan prison camp and freed 513 American and Allied prisoners.

He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Kittleson of St. Ansgar.

Mitchell County Press, August 23, 1945

BRONZE STAR AWARDED

Pictured above is Pfc. Galen Kittleson, just after he had been awarded the Bronze Medal by Lieutenant General Krueger. He is evidently one of a group being honored and is at the right of the soldier receiving a decoration.

Below is the official report of the outstanding service that earned him the award:

With the Sixth Army in the Philippines -- Helping to rescue a group of Dutch and Javanese prisoners from the hands of the Japanese within 12 hours, without the loss of a single member of the rescue party won the Bronze Star for heroism for Pfc. Galen Kittleson of St. Ansgar, Iowa. Kittleson was awarded the medal by Lieutenant General Walter Krueger, commanding general of the Sixth Army, now fighting to free the Philippines from Japanese domination.

Word had been received that the Japanese were holding 14 members of a Dutch family with 52 Javanese in a native village. Kittleson was one of a rescue party that was landed along the coast by PT boats. Proceeding inland, one group attacked the main village hut, killing 12 of the enemy and wounding four. The second group freed the native chief after killing his two guards.

The third group wiped out an enemy outpost along the beach. Then, with the weapons they had captured from the Japanese, they covered the withdrawal of the whole party. Within 12 hours oflanding, Kittleson and the men with him had rescued the entire group of 66 Dutch and Javanese without losing a single one of their party.

Kittleson is the son of Mr. Floyd Kittleson of St. Ansgar.

Mitchell County Press, 1 FEB 1945