Toeterville, Iowa—Galen C. Kittleson, 81 of Toeterville, died on Thursday, May 4, 2006, in Rochester, Minnesota. Funeral services were held Monday, May 8, 2006, at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Toeterville, Iowa, with Rev. Dean Hess officiating. Burial was in the First Lutheran Cemetery, St. Ansgar, with military honors by the Walter T. Enneberg Post #358 of the American Legion.
Galen C. Kittleson was born August 14, 1924, near St. Ansgar, Iowa. He grew up on various farms until after high school and a year of college, entered military service in World War II. He became Airborne qualified and was assigned to the 503rd Regimental Combat Team in the Pacific Theater and later being selected for the Alamo Scouts, an elite reconnaissance unit. While an Alamo Scout, he helped free 511 prisoners of war of the infamous Bataan Death March from the Cabanatuan Prison, as portrayed in the movie 'The Great Raid.' Following his discharge in 1946, he returned to St. Ansgar, Iowa where he married the former Darlene Bruggeman and worked as a farmer and International Harvester Implement dealer. But the Army had become his love and could not be ignored so he reenlisted and was a member of the 101st Airborne Division serving also in the 3rd Infantry Division and the 10th Special Forces Group in Germany. In 1967, he was assigned to the 5th Special Forces in Vietnam and returned to Ft. Bragg, NC where he was selected in 1970 for the SON TAY raid into North Vietnam to rescue American POWs. In 1973 he was promoted to Command Sergeant Major of the 1st Special Forces Group in Okinawa and later of the 7th Special Forces Group in Ft. Bragg until retirement in July 1978. Back in Iowa, he raised Hereford cattle which became his pride and joy while also directing a Scout Troop, known as the Alamo Scouts in which he passionately sought to challenge young men and women to tackle life's obstacles with integrity, courage and determination. In July 2002 a book called RAIDER was released depicting his life as a soldier and POW raider. A loving husband, father and grandfather, he mentored all with encouragement and example and where humor and support were the order of the day. He was married to the former Darlene Bruggemann of Toeterville, Iowa for 59 years and have two sons.
He is survived by his loving wife, Darlene; his sons, Bruce (Judy) of Virginia Beach, Va. and Lance (Gail) of St. Ansgar, and five grandchildren, 2LT Scott Kittleson of Ft. Huachuca, Ariz.; Jonathan and Emily Kittleson of Virginia Beach, Va.; and Katie (Tim) Heeter of St. Ansgar and Andy Kittleson of Ashford, Wash. and two great-grandchildren, Eli and Cora, Heeter of St. Ansgar.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Caroline Kittleson, a brother Leroy (Stub), a sister Charlotte Kittleson and two infant brothers.
He lived a life that a poor farmer's son from Iowa could only dream of, but never expect to realize and found within that life, courage, faith and the love of his God and Savior, the abiding love of his family and the respect and gratitude of a thankful nation.