Few people around our Clyde area have not heard of Glenn Kistler. The spry 81-year old is seen by many either telling one of his unusually fascinating stories or carrying his painting equipment to yet another destination that needs his skills with a brush.
Recently, I contacted Glenn for his recollections from serving our country in the Navy from 1953 to 1957. It is largely an unknown period of history to many for World War II had ended eight years prior and the Korean Conflict reached its stalemate in 1953.
Glenn joined the Navy to see the world and essentially avoid the then still in-effect draft. He gave up his $100 a week job at Whirlpool for $100 a month job with the Navy.
It was a wise decision for he ended up visiting over twenty countries in his four years overseas.
After enduring boot camp, he arrived in Europe in September of 1953. Once over there, Glenn was shocked by the still horrendous conditions of Southern Europe.
Rebuilding had not gotten very far even eight years after WWII’s end. Rubble and garbage was strewn everywhere. Poverty was intense with people fighting for garbage others tossed away.
In one chaotic scene, he witnessed a police official, standing guard, being pushed off a pier and into the water. People were frustrated, hungry and angry in some parts of Europe. Everyone needed money.
Once in the service, Glenn became a ‘gunner’s mate’. In this post, he was in charge of men operating the ship’s guns. He also assisted in steering ‘attack transports’ to various ports to which his comrades sailed.
These ships helped carry as many as 300 marines, other men, and supplies to beaches. Glenn trained the gunners to protect the troops reaching the beeches.
He never saw actual combat but was involved in a British rescue mission. Of all the ports of call, he termed Cuba as his favorite. In 1956, with Castro stirring things up in the mountains, everyone in Havana and other island locales ‘loved us’.
By the time he left the Navy in 1957, he was quite tired of it.
“I hated the military toward the end,” he said. “I was tired of being in the water so much of the time.”
He then added an interesting reference which today might seem unwise or life threatening.
“I hitchhiked from New York City to Clyde,” Glenn said. “I never had wanted to leave Clyde. I saw all of these countries, all of these places, but Clyde … I wanted to remain here!”
His greatest moment as a veteran occurred many decades after he returned to Clyde.
“By far, it was my participation in the ‘Honor Flight ’ program in 2014,” he said. “When we came home in 1957 there were no bands or big celebrations. But in the ‘Honor Flight’ program, that really made me truly proud to be an American.”
The Honor Flight program is an annual occasion where older vets are given the finest of celebrations, all for having served the USA in wars like World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
When Glenn left to board his fellow veteran’s charter in Toledo, there were over 600 people there, waving flags, and bands playing. He and others received cards from numerous local school kids with congratulatory letters enclosed.
“When we arrived in Washington DC, we were all on three buses,” Glenn said. “Fourteen cops accompanied and led us to the Washington Monument grounds. Numerous fire trucks rode along the sides of our buses. They kept spraying water over us. When we got off, over 200 women with ‘hug me’ signs came up to us. Many foreigners also came toward us to thank us. People gave us hats and t-shirts. It was incredible!”
Glenn, a 1952 CHS graduate, lives today with his wife, Barb, whom he married in 2000. He has two sons, Troy and Ty.
The affable little gentleman with that paint brush and a story for every occasion is truly more than some people know. Glenn Kistler is a military vet who knows why he is proud to be an American.
We, too, are quite proud Glenn lives in our midst. We thank him for his time and service on behalf of all of us.
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