Lt. Cmdr. Joseph G. Galligan

Lt. Cmdr. Joseph G. Galligan USN served in WWII in Panama and the Pacific, and later in the Navy Reserves, where he earned the rank of Commander.  He was a communications officer on the destroyer USS Tattnall, then attended submarine school and became the navigator of the submarine USS Halibut.  He earned a bronze star for getting the Halibut back to port by celestial navigation after heavy damage.  He later raised a family and practiced law in Canton, and was alternate Town Moderator from 1948-1970, serving as Director of the Canton Cooperative Bank.  He was a founder of Canton Little League and a Director of Canton Youth Hockey, as well as a member of the Canton Historical Society and the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

The history of the USS Halibut and its dramatic final patrol is told in the book "Take Her Deep" by Commander I. J. Galantin of the USNR, which we have here in the library (940.545 G)