Gallagher was nicknamed "Gal" by friends in the Class of 1965 at West Catholic High School, where he was a member of the swim team for four years. He attended St. Joseph's College briefly, but left to help support his family when his father died. The youngest of seven children, Gallagher was working as a Du Pont Co. lab technician when he was drafted into the Army in January 1967. The 20-year-old specialist four, a rifleman, was sent to Vietnam and assigned to Company C of the lst Battalion, 5th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. He died on Feb. 20, 1968. Survivors included his mother, three brothers and three sisters.