At the start, Joe and Larry were only soldiers. When Joe Colombo became boss, he made Larry Gallo Capo of the crew. Albert Gallo was not made and was acting capo of the crew when Larry died. Joe Gallo gets out, and Joe Colombo gave him a 1000 dollars as a gift and had for him him to be sent for. Sources say Colombo was going to make Joe Gallo official Capo. Joe Gallo threw the money back and said he wants more and that he was not going to meet with Colombo, until he got more money. So Joe was never officially a capo but did take over the crew.

They weren't aiming for the boss position, they were trying to cut down the amount of tribute to profaci which was bleeding many members in the family badly and in some cases dry. The main issue was the rackets that were supposed to go to the Gallo brothers instead went to Profaci immediate family members in the crime family. They had guys lined up who they felt could take over the family if Profaci and his faction lost or were killed, one of which was killed on Joe Colombos order on an unrelated matter.

Persico would have gave the Gallos more numbers and a few heavies, but not enough to turn the tides, except the gallos would not have been pinned down so easily. The Genovese and factions inside the Gambino family would back up the Gallo brothers. A couple of the capos in the gambino family could have persuaded Carlo to back up the Gallo brothers once all was said and done. The Bonanno family would have been against the Gallos. Lucchese would have backed up the Gallos as it is reported that he would sitdown with Larry Gallo if he had the chance, but would not sitdown with Joe. They would not have placed any Gallo brothers in administration positions.