[August 19, 2024] I was a phone call-in to the Father Jim Drucker radio show1 this past Saturday when he hosted Ralph Galati, a Vietnam War POW and Veteran advocate. It was a fascinating conversation as USAF Captain Galati gave us some insights into what it was like as a POW held by the North Vietnamese.
But Ralph could only scratch the surface for us, and maybe that is a good thing. He has come to terms with himself over the 406 days he endured in captivity. I believe Ralph attributes his internal strength to his strong family ties and deep Christianity. He also credits the U.S. military’s Code of Conduct. The quote below is not exact, but it gives us an idea of what it took to survive:
“Because we were in isolation so long, you had to have something to draw upon to survive.” – Captain Ralph Galati, USAF, POW February 16, 1972 to March 28, 1973
Ralph was a Distinguished Military Graduate in the Air Force ROTC program at Saint Joseph’s College in 1970. The college has a special page for him, honoring his lifetime of giving back. Like so many at his college, I want to thank him for his courage and welcome him home.
Then, Lieutenant Galati was trained as a Weapon Systems Officer in the famous F-4 Phantom II.2 Ralph is married, and they have two children together. He credits his wife and first child as helping him withstand the horrors of the POW camp Hỏa Lò Prison, more popularly known as the Hanoi Hilton. A photo of his “cell” at the Hanoi Hilton is pictured here.
Photo provided by: Ralph Galati
One thing I liked about our conversation with Ralph is that he does allow himself, as a former Vietnam War POW, to think of himself as a victim. He used that experience, as terrible as it was, as a springboard for being a better man, husband, and Christian while helping those in need. His service to Veterans is also commendable.
Ralph is from a time when America had real heroes and he is one we can count among those heroes.
I want to thank Father Jim Drucker for introducing this great man. And, a special shout-out to his family for sharing him for an hour on the Rock N Roll Reveille Show.
I highly recommend Rock N Roll Reveille at WWDB-AM Talk 860
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- A link to this episode of the “Rock N Roll Reveille” show by Father Drucker has not yet been posted but can be found on his Podcast recordings here: https://wwdbam.com/shows/rock-n-roll-reveille/
- Veteran Tributes: Honoring Those Who Served – http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=54
NOTE: The thumbnail for this article comes from the Saint Joseph’s University website.
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You just gotta love this man. A true hero.
I really enjoyed listening to you on last weeks radio show with Father Jim Drucker. It was unfortunate that you were shot down but thankful you made you survived and made it through the awful time you spent as a POW. You are a true hero and appreciate you sharing your experience with Father Jim. I was stationed in Danang in 1972 and was an Air Force analyst on an EC-47 Goony Bird collecting data in and around the Danang area. I was fortunate not to get shot down but have always wondered how the POW training I received at Fairchild AFB was realistic to what really happened as a POW. I thought the training at Fairchild was extremely intense and was wondering if you went through the training and if so how it compared to what you really went through. Thank you again for your candid interview with Father Jim, Jerry
Jerry, thank you also for your service and welcome home. We are fortunate to have heroes like you still with us and to tell the stories that need telling.
Jerry, thank you too for being a hero from the Vietnam War. And thanks for that Goony Bird reference. Great work!
Mr. Ralph Galati is certainly a great American Hero. You cannot be a jet fighter pilot and be stupid. Plus he is from the Philly area and who isn’t wonderful from the streets of Philly. Thank you sir, for your service.
Got that right, New Girl.
Gen. Satterfield gives us a hero: Ralph Galati. Good for us to know of a hero in our life. You don’t get to hear about heroes from the Vietnam War very often. They are all around us just carrying on with their lives and being the best family man (or woman) they can be. Good for them. Good for Captain Ralph Galati.
You can now get Episode 39 | Rock N Roll Reveille | Vietnam War Prisoner of War US Air Force Captain Ralph Galati, US Army Brigadier General (ret) Doug Satterfield; Vietnam Vets Dennis “Denny” Skirvin & Jimmy “Milkman” Millikin | 08-17-24
Rock ‘N’ Roll Reveille with Father Jim Drucker, Philly’s Doo Wop Priest
— scroll down to the bottom and click on the button there —
https://wwdbam.com/tag/father-jim-drucker/
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 Let’s not forget an article by Gen. Satterfield from a few years ago titled “Welcome Home Veterans Radio Show” and about a radio host – a Vietnam Veteran himself Joe Griffies – who run a program to help our veterans and entertain us too. https://www.theleadermaker.com/welcome-home-veterans-radio-show/ 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Thanks Jeremy, I’d almost forgotten about the Joe Griffies show. Good man. Oh, and thank you Gen. Satterfield for highlighting Father Jim Drucker’s program too. I’ve linked to his website and listened to one of the programs already and loved it.
Joe Griffies, good man.
Ralph Galati, real hero
Father Jim Drucker, da man!
FYI, The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration has a number of events going on, some might be in your area where you live. If you can. GO! And that might just give you a chance to say “welcome home” to a Vietnam War veteran who was not welcomed home when he came home after the war.
https://www.vietnamwar50th.com/welcome_home/
👋WELCOME HOME🙋
“One thing I liked about our conversation with Ralph is that he does allow himself, as a former Vietnam War POW, to think of himself as a victim. He used that experience, as terrible as it was, as a springboard for being a better man, husband, and Christian while helping those in need. His service to Veterans is also commendable.” – Gen. Doug Satterfield is telling us something important here and that is, IMHO, that we should always aim for something higher and better in our lives like family, God, and country. Then we have something to strive for. I think that Mr. Galati has found that by helping other veterans and being there for his family.
Gen. Satterfield, thank you for this article and is great to know that America still has heroes. I’m sure that Ralph Galati does not think of himself as a hero. Heroes never do. But in my mind, he is one. I am very happy that we have real men like him in America.
A message for Ralph Galati – Thank you, sir. And, WELCOME HOME.
Indeed, WELCOME HOME Ralph.
I am honored that we can say that today.
America has changed alot in the last 50 years since the Vietnam War. Much for the worse and some, thank God, for the better.
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Nice graph Bryan. I agree and for me, a very special welcome home to Captain Galati.
HERO: Captain Ralph Galati …. another great hero of our times.
NAILED IT, Army Captain. Welcome home Ralph Galati !!!!!!!!!!!!!!