Clarence C. Glenn, Jr. (7 January 1918 - 10 December 1944) was an American soldier who served in the US Army as a combat medic attached to Medical Detachment, US 307th Infantry Regiment, US 77th Division. He became friends with Medal of Honor recipient and pacifist Corporal Desmond T. Doss before being killed during the Battle of Leyte.
Biography[]
Clarence C. Glenn, Jr. was born on January 7, 1918. According to records, Pennsylvania was his home or enlistment state and Armstrong County was included within the archival record.
Meeting the Pacifists[]
Glenn enlisted in the United States Army in 1942, attending boot camp in Fort Jackson, South Carolina when he met Desmond T. Doss, a Virginian pacifist, and Randell Fuller, a teacher from Connecticut. As the men attend basic training, Doss became a pariah among his fellow soldiers for refusing to handle a rifle and train on Saturdays. Captains George Howell and Jack Glover attempted to discharge Doss for psychiatric reasons under Section 8 but were overruled, as Doss's religious beliefs did not constitute mental illness. They subsequently tormented Doss by putting him through grueling labor, intending to get Doss to leave of his own accord. Glenn, who was a devout Catholic, and Fuller attempted to defend Doss as he was beaten one night by his fellow soldiers, though Doss mercifully refused to identify his attackers and continued training.
The Pacific[]
Clarence Glenn in his Army dress uniform.
After the US 77th Division shipped out to the Pacific, Glenn, along with Doss, were assigned as combat medics during the Battle of Guam. This was the first time the unit was exposed to the cruel realities of a war zone. He and Doss spent every day not only evading bullets, but also saving the lives of their brothers in arms. During their time in Guam, a young recruit spotted a fountain pen lying on the ground. As soon as he went to pick it up, a booby trap was triggered and a blinding explosion immediately engulfed the area. The grenade explosion had left the recruit with a gaping wound in his chest with shards of metal jutting out of it. With extreme effort, Glenn and Doss managed to stabilize his condition by administering immediate first aid, also saving three other lives.
Death[]
The next crucial event in Glenn's military career came with the Battle of Leyte in the Philippines on 19 October 1944. Beginning with a US Navy coastal bombing, the battle intensified the more inland the US infantry went. Glenn responded to a call by a fellow medic who had been fired at by an IJA machine gun. Glenn ran into no man’s land to get the medic the help he required. While doing so, he was himself shot and fell to the ground. Because Glenn was Doss’ close friend from boot camp, Doss refused to leave him. And thus, setting a commendable example of friendship and bravery, he convinced another medic to accompany him on a dangerous journey to save the two wounded soldiers. Doss focused his attention on the machine gunner, who had several gashes across his face. Making use of creativity and quick thinking, he improvised a stretcher from tree branches to carry the man back to the aid station. Unfortunately, Glenn died on the way to the station. This caused Doss to suffer a mental breakdown, because he was the only other friend from his unit that cared about him. In order for Doss to keep rescuing injured men, he swore not to look at the men he helped.