Michael Thomas GlynneSecond LieutenantB CO, 2ND BN, 35TH INF RGT, 3RD BDE, 25 INF DIV Army of the United States 18 March 1944 - 28 May 1966 New York, New York Panel 07E Line 113 |
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The database page for Michael Thomas Glynne
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MICHAEL THOMAS GLYNNE He and my brother, Tom, were friends - we had grandmothers in Thomasville, GA - which is where Tom and Mike met and where Mike is buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery. I only recall meeting Mike once for about 10 minutes in the summer of 1962 when he came through New Orleans. Over the years he has risen unbidden from that moment; I have often pondered why. After September 11th, he came to haunt me and I began a web search and as well as an internal search in order to answer that question. My only memory of Mike is his lounging against our kitchen table, dressed in his "India" uniform, and laughing about his experience the night before with a blind date in the French Quarter. The joke was his date had decided that she wanted a watermelon, and Mike, being in uniform, could not carry anything. Therefore, his solution was to hire a street person for $2 to carry the watermelon and follow them around all night. I think the reason this made me remember him so, besides the great visual, is the integrity and honor that it signifies. No one would know if he was out of uniform, or had carried something except him. That sense of personal values does not seem to exist today. He brought honor on himself, West Point and his country. In searching the Web and with the help of West Point, I found a few facts: His death is recorded in the book "Battles in the Monsoon" by S. L. A. Marshall (which is taught at West Point) pp. 259-268 as LZ 10 Alpha, 28-29 May 1966. Mike was the unidentified platoon leader killed (See LZ 10 ALPHA , 35th Infantry Regiment). Mike was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart; his Unit received a Unit Citation. Mike had arrived in Vietnam on 6 January 1966 and had just celebrated his 22nd birthday. He was paid $294.60 a month. He was from NYC and had gone to the Hill School in Pennsylvania before his appointment to West Point. He graduated 66/596 in his class. He was the second member of the class of 1965 to die in Vietnam. He was a track star, a lover of music, a member of the choir, and a fluent speaker of Russian. He had a sister Linda who loved him very much.
Vereen@bellsouth.net |
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I still have every letter and postcard that Michael Glynne sent to me the summer of 1964, as he traveled through Eastern Europe. We met the spring of 1964 in Carlisle, PA when the West Point Glee Club sang at a War College event, followed by a dance the OWC sponsored to entertain the cadets. He walked me home that evening and asked for a kiss. I was his date at Ring Hop at USMA, and still have the necklace he brought me from Vienna, which I wore that night. He was disappointed that my gown had a high neckline instead of a low-cut version that would have shown off the crystal beads much better. But he was older, and far more sophisticated than I. The party favors that night were tiny replicas of the 1965 Class Ring. I have it, along with the necklace, tucked away with the postcards, and a love letter he wrote to me, in French, in 1964. He was worldly, intelligent, and in all ways remarkable. I am grateful for having been a small part of his life.
From a friend, |
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35th Infantry - the Cacti Regiment |
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The point-of-contact for this memorial is an acquaintance, Vereen vereen@bellsouth.net 15 Feb 2002 |
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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Channing Prothro, former CAP Marine
Last updated 09/20/2004