Glenn Wenger

Glenn Wenger

Army

GLENN
WENGER

Jan 18, 1926 - Nov 23, 2004
BIRTHPLACE: Powhattan, KS

SOLDIER DETAILS

DIVISION:
Army
,
101st Airborne Div. 501st Parachute Infantry
THEATER OF OPERATION:
European
SERVED: Aug 2, 1944 -
Jun 24, 1946
HONORED BY: Wife Jean Wenger, 6 Children, 8 Grandchildren, 10 Great-Grandchildren

BIOGRAPHY

Glenn was proud to serve his country, enlisting right after graduating from high school. He rarely spoke about his service years, many bittersweet memories as Glenn's only elder brother Allan was killed in action in the Philippines just 2 months after Glenn's enlistment. We children only found out about Dad's experience, when he opened up to his first grandson, who had asked for his help with a Social Studies report. Then we learned that he had trained at Camp Robinson in Little Rock, Arkansas, as an infantryman and paratrooper. Later he was shipped out to Reims, France. After a few months in Europe, Glenn was hospitalized in France with yellow jaundice and was separated from his division. Dad commented that this illness probably 'saved his life'. His 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment was the first wave of reinforcements in the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 and there were heavy casualties. His post-war assignment was in the Army of Occupation in Berlin, Germany. He was a Corporal at his discharge from the Army in June, 1946. He returned home to marry Jean Meyer, his high school sweetheart. They built a wonderful life together successfully running the family farm and raising livestock near Powhattan, Kansas. He was actively involved with the American Legion, his church, his children's school and many other community activities. At every opportunity, he instilled a sense of patriotism, a strong work ethic and Christian morals in his children and grandchildren. He was a fine American and was loved and respected by all who knew him.