Galen Conley

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" WAR CLAIMS FIRST VICTIM FROM COUNTY"  

The headlines read May 7, 1942. Below is the article that followed in the Paintsville Herald that brought the war home to touch the lives with sadness.

Oil Springs High School Graduate Killed in Action

    This week the grimness of the war effort was brought home to the people of Johnson County as the first definite casualty was reported. This information was conveyed in a message from the Navy Department to Mrs. Warren Helton, of Oil springs, that her son, Gale Conley of the US Navy had been killed in action.

    The telegram said that Conley had died of wounds received while in action. Further information will follow later by mail. No information was given as to the time or the palce of his death.

    Young Conley was a graduate of Oil Springs High School class of 1937. He was known as a good student, well liked, and active in the Future Farmers of America organization at Oil Springs. He enlisted in the U S Navy in May 1937.

    His grandfather, Clark Conley, lives at Oil Springs. His father, Ross Conley, died some years ago. Three brothers survive: Tom Walter Conley and Homer Lee Conley, both of Oil Springs and Ellis Ross Conley, who volunteered in the Navy only three weeks ago.

    Three half sisters and one half brother survive: Joy Mae Helton, Helen Christine Helton, Grace Evelyn Helton and Paul Edward Helton.

    Although other boys have been reported missing this is the first definite information of the loss of life of a Johnson County boy reported by the Navy or War Departments.