World War II Honoree

Glenn Allen Beecham

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

El Reno, Oklahoma

Honored By

William E. Shaklee

Relationship

Friend

CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY IN JULY 1942. HE REPORTED TO CAMP EDWARDS, MASSACHUSETTS, AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE FIRST ENGINEERING AMPHIBIOUS BRIGADE. THE MISSION OF THE BRIGADE WAS TO ASSIST THE INFANTRY IN MAKING LANDINGS OVER BEACHES. SOON HE WAS SENT OVERSEAS TO ENGLAND FOR ADDITIONAL TRAINING. IN JANUARY 1943 HE MOVED TO AFRICA AND TRAINED FOR THE LANDING IN SICILY. FOLLOWING THAT ACTION HE RETURNED TO AFRICA WHERE HE TRAINED FOR THE LANDING AT SALERNO, ITALY. FROM THAT ACTION HE WENT TO ENGLAND. THERE THEY TRAINED INFANTRY DIVISIONS COMING FROM THE U.S. FOR THE NORMANDY INVASION. HE LANDED ON UTAH BEACH. THAT BEING THE LAST LANDING IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS, HIS UNIT WAS CHANGED TO AN ENGINEERING COMBAT UNIT. IN EUROPE HE PARTICIPATED IN THE CAMPAIGNS OF NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE. HE RETURNED TO THE U.S. AUGUST 18, 1945, AND WAS RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY.