The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-06-07
Sgt. and Three Companions Battle
160 Nazis three days


Sgt Llye ]. Galusha who enlisted
from Boomers Ferry is a brother
of Mrs. Walter Wallace of Troy, and
son of Mrs. Harland Livermore of
Sioux City, Ia.
Commander of a four crew tank
outfit Sgt Galusha and his three
companions managed to fight off a
force of 100 Germans for three
days and two nights. This action
is the more notable inasmuch as it
took place deep within Germany
in Third army drive last month.
The story of this daring was told
in Third Army paper. THE Arm
ored Attacker', published in Lux
embourg, Germany, and follows:
During the three day period of
isolation they encountered more
anxious moments than the average
soldier has on an entire year.
"They not only had to dodge fire
coming from the woods 500 yards
from their broken down tank but
he'd to keep an eye on the civilians
who were attempting to contact the
Germans to bring them food, wine
and information. They saw an
American captain ambushed and
later die because the Nazis would
not permit the medics to 60 md
treat him.
Here is Sgt. Galusha's story as
told in the same army newspaper.
I'VE had cleared the debris from
a blown bridge with the dozer when
we started having motor trouble.
We managed to get to the village
of Hansen but there we became
mired in a stream on the side of
the road to such an extent that the
limping motor would not pull us
out. The column pulled on and then
our troubles began.
we had no map or radio and no
idea where the division was head
ed. In the morning we caught two
prisoners and put them on a jeep to
get rid of them.
We heard firing in the woods
caused by one of our convoys. Ev-
erything cut loose
Pvt. Henry Rivers took up the
story. I'VE hit the ditch and +
emptied my carbine and grease gun.
at the Germans, firing from the
roadside.
"A captain riding in a jeep was
hit bad. Our buddiesf wuf mfumb
hit bad Our medics tried to reach
him but every time they tried the
Nazis would open up and stop them.
Finally when we were able to reach
him, he had died.
Sgt. H. Marbeck continued. He
found bicycle and went to assist
ance. A lieutenant and Is men came
but they had no vehicle to extri-
cate the dozer SO Sgt Galusha and
the Lieutenant went to a command
post leaving the other three men,
bers Of the crew on guard. The
sergeant returned the next morn
ing with two platoons and three
medium tanks. Before they went
to work on the dozer they fished
out 100 fully armed ferries from
..l,e woods tnianli.ing the town.
After pulling the dozer from the
ditch such minor incidents occurred
as running out of gas, etc. Two DAYS
ia,cc1s we were able to reioin our
outfit.
Saf Galusha has been overseas
"a months. He has brother, Pvt.
Gale Galusha who has been with
the First Marine Division for two
years.
Robert Plots who has had four
years service in the South Pacific
has 80 day furlough and stopped
in Troy to visit his old friends be-
fore as he was enroute to Warland
where he will visit his parents and
brothers. While in Troy he stopped
at the Buster Fisher home.
James Duffy who is employed by
Cole McDougall as cedar maker
had the misfortune to cut his arm
badly while working He went at
once to Libby where Or. Cairns
took care of the wound. This oc-
Cured on Tuesday morning.
L.. y