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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Sep '92
GLENN WILLARD DETTREY NO. 15956 CLASS
OF 1946 Died 27 May 1971 in El Paso, Texas, aged 46
years. Interment Fort Bliss National Cemetery, El Paso, Texas
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Born 28 June 1924 in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, Glenn
Willard Dettrey was the elder of two boys in his family. His
father ran the Overhead Door Company but died in 1939 when Glenn
was a freshman at Lewistown High School. Glenn was active in
many activities in high school. His yearbook entry shows Glenn
played football, basketball and golf besides being the assistant
business manager of the yearbook and serving on the Student Assembly.
His writeup reads: "Blond, curly-haired football hero ...
gets around in his Ford ... expects to go to West Point."
He entered Penn State University following graduation from high
school, and, after a year, won his coveted appointment to West
Point. Glenn joined the Class of 1946 on the banks of the Hudson
on I July 1943. Glenn had the personality to take on cadet life
with a minimum of unpleasantness. As one of his roommates, Jack
Miley, recalled: "...We were down the hall from St. Onge
and a few other fun-loving yearlings and, in spite of this, Glenn
kept a low profile and a very, very low demerit record. I cannot
recall him ever walking the area. I will always picture Glenn
as a cadet with his head tipped slightly forward and a little
to the right, with a faint smile on his lips. He had a wry sense
of humor which gave him the ability to fare well as a cadet,
and I'm sure it served him equally well during his later Army
career."
Another roommate, Phil Clements, recalled: "The thing
I remember most is that he was quiet and did not show his anger
openly. He was an easy person to live with because he did not
try to give unwanted advice .... I do remember that we complemented
each other academically. I had a hard time with language, history,
etc. and he helped me, whereas I was able to help him with math
and the sciences. He was not the kind of person to try to get
away with something he was not supposed to do"
A classmate and fellow artilleryman, Elmo Cunningham, recalled:
"...By nature, he was a very likable person-always with
an easy smile that assured you of his sincerity. Everyone liked
Glenn. He was a quiet, easygoing type. but with an inner strong
determination that enabled him to successfully get through the
West Point experience. I remember him with a warm fondness, as
others do." Graduation saw Glenn pin on the bars of a second
lieutenant of Field Artillery.
Following the basic Artillery courses at Fort Sill, Oklahoma
and Fort Bliss, Texas, Glenn was assigned to the 24th Division
Artillery in Japan. During his two years there, he served in
a variety of assignments. Glenn returned to the States in 1950
to attend the radar course at Fort Bliss, Texas before assignment
to the 10th Field Artillery Battalion at Fort Devens, Massachusetts.
The 10th, part of the 7th Infantry Regiment, left Fort Devens
and arrived in Japan on I September 1950 before deploying to
Korea, assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division. Glenn saw much
combat with the 10th Field Artillery Battalion. He was involved
in the Chosin Reservoir action in November 1950, the United Nations
Counterattack in early 1951 and in the CCF Spring Offensive in
spring 1951. His unit also was active in the subsequent United
Nations Offensive and the Second Korean Winter campaign. He was
awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his performance in combat.
Glenn returned to the States in 1952. He and Shirley H. Cairns
were married in El Paso, Texas on 5 August 1952. Shortly afterwards,
Glenn reported to Fort Sill, Oklahoma to attend the Artillery
Officers Advanced Course. In 1953, Glenn became an instructor
in radar at the Artillery School. The Dettreys traveled to Alaska
in 1955, where Glenn served as battery commander in both Field
Artillery and Anti-Aircraft Artillery units. Glenn returned to
Fort Sill, where he served in the Guided Missile Department of
the Artillery School. Remaining at Fort Sill, Glenn moved to
the Missile Systems Evaluation Group in 1961. In 1962, Glenn
became executive officer of the Third Battalion of the 81st Artillery
Group. He remained in that position when the unit deployed to
Korea in 1963. After six months in Korea, Glenn suffered a serious
illness (encephalomyelitis) and was transferred to William Beaumont
General Hospital at Fort Bliss, Texas. On 10 June 1964, Glenn
was retired for permanent disability in the grade of lieutenant
colonel. He and Shirley lived in El Paso, Texas after his retirement.
Glenn's disability left him without the use of his left arm
and he wore a brace on his left leg. Notwithstanding these problems,
Glenn did his utmost to become productive. During 1965-68, he
earned 27 semester hours' credit from the University of Texas
at El Paso plus certification to teach in public school, and
was certified in public accounting, International Accountants
Society. While attending school, Glenn worked in the accounting
department of the El Paso Natural Gas Company. Following his
certification as a teacher, he taught school in the Anthony,
New Mexico School District. In 1970, he worked with a small business
organization auditing small businesses. Glenn died on 27 May
1971 of complications from his illness. His survivors included
his wife Shirley, daughter Lynn and brother, Eugene. Glenn Dettrey
was beginning to make major contributions to the Army when he
was struck with the disease that forced him to retire. Faced
with severe physical problems, Glenn still managed to accomplish
things that would have been impossible for a lesser person. The
inner strength and determination that he displayed as a cadet
served him well after retirement. He never complained and made
the most of the opportunities presented to him. His family remembers
Glenn as a loving father and devoted husband. His classmates
remember him as a good friend, one of those selfless members
of the Class of 1946 who, after graduation, carried Duty, Honor,
Country into the Army and continued to live up to those lofty
words each day of his life. His family, friends and classmates
will remember Glenn fondly and find solace in the fact that,
for his short time with them, they were able to know and serve
with a truly good man. "Well done, Glenn; be thou
at peace!"
'46 Memorial Article Project and his wife Shirley
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