Marvin Gall is a World War II Veteran, one of the few local remaining WWII Veterans. He was drafted in June of 1946 and was a part of the last group of draftees to be sent overseas near the end of WWII. When Marvin was drafted, he had the option to enlist for 18 months or to serve for the duration of the war. Marvin chose to enlist for the 18 months. Those drafted that chose to serve for the duration of the war were discharged within six months of beginning their service.

Gall left from Scotland to attend Fort Snelling in MN for his physical. Afterwards, Marvin was sent to Camp Robinson, in AK where he did his basic and war training. Gall had the choice of being a military chef or a truck driver as his military job; he chose military chef. After completing his initial trainings, Marvin was able to go home for a week before he was sent to Washington in preparation for his deployment to Korea. It took almost a week for he and his fellow soldiers to travel from Washington to Korea. In Korea, Gall was stationed on a base that housed a prison camp. Their work days were one full day of work followed by one full day off.

Marvin was the 5th drafted son in his family. His brother Ray was Air Force, Richard was Marines, John was Navy and Aldon was Army. Aldon was drafted during the same time frame as Marvin. While in Korea, Marvin wrote a letter to his brother, Aldon. Two days after the letter was sent, to Marvin’s complete surprise his brother Aldon walked into the base where Marvin was stationed. Aldon was also a military chef. The brothers were able to spend a month deployed together before Aldon’s deployment ended and he was sent back to the United States. Marvin was honorably discharged in October of 1947. He was shipped back to Army Camp Stoneman in CA before taking the train to Yankton, where the draft board was located to find his own way home to Lesterville.

One of the highlights during Marvin’s military service would be the opportunities that he had. He was able to be shipped overseas to a place unknown and unfathomable to him. Even though Marvin did not have much money and was not able to tour much, he enjoyed every place he went which he attributes to being overseas during peace time.

Gall was born and raised in Lesterville on a family farm. After being discharged from the Army, Marvin returned to Lesterville. Marvin needed a job when he came home. His older brother, Ray, ran a local radio shop that did farm wiring and other rural electrical work. Marvin went to work for Ray and that is how he began to learn the electrical trade. When the electrical work ran slow, Marvin went to work for a plumber and learned the trade. Nothing in the area offered steady work, so in February of 1949, Marvin headed to Pickstown in hopes of finding a job. On February 29th, 1949, Gall was offered a job with the Corp of Engineers in Pickstown.

His work for the Corp of Engineers began as a laborer. He would shovel snow, assist the electrician, do anything that was asked of him. After the foreman told Marvin to work with/assist the electrician, Marvin learned all of the aspects of the electrical trades through hands on experience. He learned how to work with refrigeration, boilers, power lines, etc. When the Corp of Engineers changed from Army to Air Force, Gall signed up to be a civil engineer. At one time he had 30 people working underneath him. When the Corp of Engineers changed back to the Army, Marvin was 68 years old and was looking for a new job after working 36 years for the Corp of Engineers. For two years he worked as a plumber before at the age of 70 becoming the Fire and Police Chief of Pickstown. In 1985, his positions were eliminated and he decided it was time to retire. Marvin moved to Lake Andes where he started his business as the local heating and air electrician. Even at 96 years old, Marvin is still working and is always willing to lend a hand to anyone who calls. Marvin is a rare and unique individual full of life, experiences and stories. This world is a better place of because of people like him.

In 1950, he married his beautiful wife, Mary Jane (Cwach). They met while at a bar in Lesterville. Two of Gall’s cousins had dates and they were looking for a date for Mary Jane. Mary Jane sat by Marvin and told him that he was kind of cute. His cousins told him that he should date her and they were together ever since until Mary Jane passed in 2003. They had eight children Ron, Amy, Ann, Nancy, Nora, Russell, Donna and David. They have 22 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. Marvin enjoyed traveling with his wife, especially to the east coast states and Branson, MO. Throughout the years, Marvin has enjoyed hunting wild game, golfing and calling Bingo.

Gall has been a very active member of the Lake Andes VFW and American Legion. He joined the VFW in 1951 and the American Legion in 1949. He has held all positions in both organizations. Marvin just finished a 15-year tenure asQuartermasterfortheVFW and is currently the adjudicate for the American Legion. His advice for anyone interested in joining the military would be that it is a good experience. Especially if someone is looking for a job or a career path, joining the military will give them time to figure out what they want to do or be in life.

Thank you, Marvin, for your service and for being the Lake Andes Veteran of the Month.