Susan Marie Galich was a leader, a fighter, a loyal friend, and an inspiration to many. Whether you had known Susan for decades or had just met her, it did not take long to realize that she epitomized grit; Sue truly was one of the most mentally and physically tough people around. Her seemingly calm and quiet demeanor would quickly give way to a sarcastic, witty, hilarious side, demonstrated by a silly joke, her infectious laugh, and an amazing sense of humor. Susan’s humility, her generosity, and her loyalty to her friends are some things that remained constant throughout her life.
The daughter of David and Fu-Mei Galich, Susan was an Air Force brat who moved from Texas to Georgia to Washington, where she attended elementary through high school. Her father, a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and a combat pilot in Vietnam, was her personal hero and her inspiration to attend West Point. As a high school student, Susan was a standout student-athlete, well liked by her peers, and even voted homecoming queen. She consistently met her parents’ high expectations and earned the admiration of her younger sister, Diane, who wanted to be just like her. From a young age, Susan was motivated to succeed, and this attribute served her well as she pursued admission to the U.S. Military Academy.
At West Point, Susan excelled in all physical aspects of cadet life, earning a reputation among her classmates as a “physical stud.” During the summer of 1998, Susan was selected to attend the U.S. Naval Dive and Salvage Course in Florida. Sue woke early every morning to train in the pool, never missing a workout. Her preparation paid off when she was one of six USMA women to graduate from the grueling course and earn the right to wear the “bubble” on her uniform. This is how she earned the nickname “Scuba Sue.”
Susan was a member of the Army Crew Team and ran the Marine Corps Marathon firstie year. “Work hard, play hard” was her mantra. A Chinese language major, she stayed up late every night to study and got up early every morning to run or swim. All of her dedication to her studies and fitness didn’t prevent Sue from having fun, though. She could be found occasionally letting loose at the Firstie Club and, of course, thoroughly celebrating Branch Night with a few beers alongside her classmates in Ike Hall.
Upon graduation, Susan was commissioned as a Military Intelligence officer, and she set out to Korea for her first assignment. It wasn’t long before she met the love of her life, Greg Dutka. Once they became a couple, she and Greg were inseparable. They could be spotted together everywhere around Seoul, from official unit functions to closing down bars in Itaewon, to running with the Hash House Harriers club. Greg asked Susan to marry him, and after an 18-month engagement they were married in Waikiki, HI on May 1, 2003.
Throughout her military career, Susan served overseas multiple times, including deployments in Iraq and Kuwait. She commanded Charlie Company, 304th MI Battalion, 111th MI Brigade in Fort Huachuca, AZ. Sue held a master’s degree in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University and a Master of Science degree in Strategic Intelligence from National Intelligence University. At her final assignment at USARPAC in Hawaii, Susan was assigned as the G2X chief, where she planned and coordinated counterintelligence operations throughout the Pacific.
Fitness continued to be her passion. Susan completed many marathons, as well as Ironman triathlons in Lake Placid, NY; Arizona; and Texas. She raced the Ironman 70.3 World Championship and was a competitive CrossFit athlete and coach.
While an accomplished athlete in her own right, Susan never failed to inspire others. She encouraged and inspired countless friends and colleagues to set fitness goals, and she was there to cheer them on and celebrate with them when they achieved those goals. Susan’s gift of genuine empathy for others and her infectious positivity made her friends truly believe they could accomplish anything.
Besides their shared love of fitness, she and Greg shared an obsession with boating, traveling, and riding motorcycles. Together they undoubtedly lived life to its fullest.
When Susan was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in early 2016, everyone who knew her was devastated. However, she approached her diagnosis and her upcoming fight with cancer with her characteristic courage and grit. “I have lived an amazing life because of all of you, and I will continue to fight for every precious day that I can,” she said in a message to friends. “Team Susan” was assembled quickly by her countless supporters. For more than a year, while Susan fought courageously against this horrible disease, friends used the Team Susan group on Facebook to share messages of inspiration, photos of themselves running races or doing CrossFit competitions in her honor, jokes that would make her laugh, and positive thoughts to lift her spirits during difficult times.
After more than a year of valiantly fighting her cancer, Susan passed away peacefully at her home in Hawaii on May 13, 2017. She was surrounded by her husband and family. As news of her passing spread, the true impact of Susan’s life was evidenced by the outpouring of support for Greg and the testimonials of friends whose lives she touched.
Following memorial services in Hawaii, Susan was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC. Her classmates have chosen to honor and remember Susan with a memorial paver outside the Association of Graduates building at West Point. The paver reads, “In Memory of LTC Susan Galich; 1977-2017; USMA 1999; Our Warrior.”
Well Done; Be Thou at Peace, Susan; you inspired us all.
— Written by Susan’s classmates, friends, and family