Soldier Follows In Father's Footsteps
(May 5, 2010) |
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Army Lt. Col. Scott Glass serves with the 3rd Army, as his father did during World War II. Courtesy photo |
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CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait, May 3, 2010 – As an infantryman in
World War II, Royce Glass was part of one of the most
challenging achievements in American military history as a
member of Gen. George Patton's 3rd Army. His division was
one of the first to pivot and move north to engage the
German forces surrounding Bastogne, Belgium.
Today, his son, Army Lt. Col. Scott Glass, 3rd Army's
logistics operations plans branch chief, is serving in
support of Lt. Gen. William Webster's drawdown in Iraq and
buildup in Afghanistan.
The colonel's father was one of four brothers from
Greensboro, Ga., who fought in World War II. He was a
"replacement" in Patton's Own, which meant he would go into
a unit after a soldier was wounded or killed.
The elder Glass fought in many battles, including the Battle
of the Bulge. He earned the Bronze Star for valor and two
Purple Hearts in the European Theater and won the admiration
of a son who knew he wanted to serve at a young age. |
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"He lost his best friend, who was killed next to him," Glass
said. "That is an inspiration from which we can all draw
strength."
Taking a job as butcher in small-town Georgia after the war,
he said, his father became a devoted husband to his wife,
Hilda, a loving father of three sons, a patient Little
League coach and a man who never lost his temper - except
that time his sons accidentally burned down his beehives.
People in trouble and needing help could always call on him,
day or night, he added.
Glass is married and has two sons with military aspirations
of their own. They are involved in the ROTC and Junior ROTC
programs at their respective schools.
"My wife, Paige, and I are so proud of our boys, Michael and
Matthew," Glass said. "My daddy attended the commissioning
ceremony for me and cried like a baby. I too, can see myself
getting very emotional if one of my sons ever fulfills their
goal of becoming a commissioned officer."
Meanwhile, Glass said, he is drawing on his father's
inspiration in his own service.
"My father was and still is the greatest man I ever knew,"
he said. "If I live to be as respected as he was, I think I
will have done well." | |
By Army Cpl. Brandon Babbitt, 3rd Army
American Forces Press Service
Copyright 2010
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