James Edward Gallagher was born to James E. and Catherine J. Gallagher in 1917 in Jersey City, N.J. His father, a printer for The Jersey Observer of Hoboken, had been president of the Hoboken Typographical Union.

In 1935, Edward enrolled in Saint Peter’s College. In 1939, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. He worked at Catholic Charities in New York City. On March 14, 1942, he enlisted as a private in the United States Army Air Corps. In time, he rose to the rank of second lieutenant and was a pilot.

On September 6, 1943, he was killed when his flying fortress had an accidental collision with another flying fortress near Rolla, Maryland. Gallagher was 26 years old.