Joseph “Joe” Ganahl was born on April 19, 1903, in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. He was the son of Artemus Gould Ganahl and Margaret M. Griffith Ganahl. He was married to Constance Hale Otis Ganahl. He graduated from West Point in 1927. He began his military career as a student pilot in the Air Corps, later transferring to the 12th Field Artillery at Fort Sam Houston. He served in Hawaii with the 13th Field Artillery and 11th Field Artillery Brigade, then attended the Field Artillery School and completed the Advanced Course in Horsemanship, earning distinction in equestrian competition. He subsequently joined the elite 16th Field Artillery Battalion at Fort Myer, served as an instructor with the 37th Division of the Ohio National Guard, and later entered the Armored Force, where he commanded Battery B, 68th Field Artillery. He was later appointed Assistant G-4 of the 1st Armored Division, and in October 1941, he deployed to the Philippines, where he would later fight in the Bataan campaign.

Major Joseph Ganahl was appointed commander of the 1st Provisional Artillery Battalion equipped with self-propelled guns. Initially composed of a mixed group of American soldiers, Philippine Scouts, Philippine Army draftees, and Filipino civilian drivers, he swiftly transformed it into a highly disciplined and effective combat unit. He personally led his men in fierce engagements against the Japanese advance from Vigan toward Lingayen, fighting alongside Majors Williams and Noble and their Filipino Scouts with only a handful of mobile 75mm guns, often under heavy fire. His unit went on to form the backbone of the final defense of Bataan, reportedly firing the last shots before its fall.

LTC Ganahl was captured as a POW in the Philippines and, in December 1944, was placed aboard the Oryoku Maru for transfer to Japan. The ship was repeatedly attacked by American planes and sunk at Subic Bay on December 15, 1944. Survivors were moved to the Enoura Maru, which was bombed at Takao, Formosa, on January 9, 1945, causing heavy casualties. Those who endured were transferred to the Brazil Maru, arriving in Japan on January 29, 1945. Gravely weakened by wounds and illness, Ganahl was sent to the Japanese military hospital at Camp Moji (Fukuoka #4, Kyushu Island), where he died on February 11, 1945. General Jonathan Wainwright later called him “one of the finest combat officers in my command, a spirited Texan who fought as few men ever have.” He is now buried in the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA.

Silver Star Citation:
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major (Field Artillery) Joseph Ganahl (ASN: 0-16854), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving as Commanding Officer of the 1st Provisional Artillery Battalion (Self-Propelled), 24th Field Artillery Regiment, Philippine Scouts, in action against the enemy in the defense of Bataan, Philippine Islands, in 1942. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Major Ganahl, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, alumni.westpointaog.org, valor.militarytimes.com, West Point Association of Graduates