World War II Honoree

Elmer Thomas 'Tom' Glenn

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE ESCORT CARRIER USS KALININ BAY (CVE-68). PARTICIPATED IN THE GILBERT ISLANDS OPERATION, MARSHALL ISLANDS OPERATION, MARIANAS OPERATION, WESTERN CAROLINE ISLANDS OPERATION, AND LEYTE (BATTLE OF SAMAR) CAMPAIGNS. DURING THE BATTLE OF SAMAR IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS IN OCTOBER, 1944, WHICH WAS PART OF THE LARGER BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF, HIS SHIP DISTINGUISHED ITSELF DURING AN ENGAGEMENT AGAINST A LARGE JAPANESE BATTLESHIP-HEAVY FORCE. THE AMERICAN FORCE WAS OUTNUMBERED AND OUTGUNNED, BUT PREVAILED AT THE END. IN THE BATTLE, HE LOST 5 SHIPMATES KILLED IN ACTION, WITH SOME 55 OTHERS WOUNDED, AND HIS CARRIER SUFFERED EXTENSIVE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE FROM 15 ENEMY SHELLS AND 2 'KAMIKAZE' SUICIDE PLANE STRIKES. PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION ‘MAGIC CARPET’ AFTER THE END OF HOSTILITIES. THIS WAS THE CODE NAME FOR THE RAPID RETURN OF SERVICE PERSONNEL BY WARSHIPS AND TRANSPORT VESSELS FROM THEATER TO THE U.S.A. AWARDED THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, NAVY PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION (SAMAR), GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 SILVER BATTLE STAR (5 CAMPAIGNS) AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR SERVICE BY HIS SHIP IN THE WAR AGAINST JAPAN DURING THE PERIOD OCTOBER 17, 1944 TO JULY 4, 1945; AND THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1946, AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN. CONTINUED IN U.S. ARMY SERVICE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL AGAIN HONORABLY DISCHARGED.