Bio: Galls - The Real Deal (Melvin/Patricia – 2007)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Gall

----Source: Banner Journal (Black River Falls, Jackson Co., WI) 11/07/2007

Galls The Real Deal (Melvin/Patricia - 2007)



The Gall of it all? Not at all. This portrayal, according to Melvin and Patricia Gall, is the real McCoy. Contributed photo

When the Galls, Melvin and Patricia, recently posed, on the front porch of their Merrillan home decked out in Civil War regalia, they weren’t doing it just for the sake of Halloween.

Melvin, who was born and raised in the Neillsville area, enlisted in the Army at 16 (He changed his birth certificate) and is currently a member of VUMS – Veterans of Underage Military Service. He is retired from the Army as a First Sergeant. He served four combat tours in Vietnam and was assigned to one of t he first modern-day cavalry units, the 82nd Sky Cavalry, “My Horse,” he said, “was a helicopter.”

Melvin’s alias is “Badwine,” which comes from his first name: Mel meaning “bad” and “vin” meaning wine.

Patricia’s alias is “Peerless Patty.” According to a thankful Melvin, that’s because she guarded the homefront while he was serving his country.

Both Melvin and Patricia are members of a national shooting society which allows members to create a personality from the 1800s, and shoot rifle, pistol and shotgun competitively. Peerless Patty is an expert in all three, “She knows how to handle her .45 Colts and is also a very good trap shooter,” said Melvin.

As for the cannon, that’s an 1841, six pound smooth bore, an exact one-third scale in every detail to the original. Its carriage is genuine white oak.

“We keep the cannon at the front door to guard against intruders, Melvin said jokingly.