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Greetings Eric, and welcome to the forum.

I don't think there's a "formal" name for that technique, but Grant (forum co-founder and expert linguist) might jump in and provide one.

Ellipses can be used in a variety of ways, depending on the style of writing. The MLA handbook (and others) is quite specific about how to use them. But it literature it's a whole 'nuther matter, and mainly one of style.

In your example, the ellipsis is clearly used to indicate a pause in thought, and is followed by something worth emphasizing. The fact that they were soldiers says one thing, but after the "pause in thought" Galloway apparently wanted to make the point that not all soldiers are young, but in this case they were young.

It's an effective way to indicate that the writer, after some thought, decided to add more relevant information. For example: We were certain we had the correct route ... until the road came to a dead end.

Well, just me, also, but the ellipsis gives a sense of wistfulness, rather than melodrama, which is missing with the comma.