Vaalgamaa was born in Košrags on the northern coast of Courland.
Edgar Vaalgamaa, however, didn't want to be a fisherman but went to study theology at the University of Helsinki in 1934.
He graduated in 1939 but was unable to return because of World War II.
Edgar stayed in Finland and volunteered in the Continuation War.
At the same time, he translated the Latvian epic poem "Lāčplēsis" into Finnish.