Centenarian Veteran: A Life of Service and Resilience

Bill Glennon: A Life of Service

Bill Glennon, a Navy veteran, remains quick despite his age. A suggestion to visit the Wall of Honor at the Prairie Path senior living community in Lombard prompts him to dash toward the elevator. He is 101 years old, unfazed by both his walker and his years.

As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, Glennon reflects less on his long life and more on his surprise at still being here. When asked for advice for younger generations, Glennon, a longtime Western Springs resident, says, “To tell you the truth, I don’t know – I’m amazed I’m here. The good Lord has let me stay so long and I enjoy myself all the time.”

Military Life and Survival

Glennon’s life could have ended early during World War II in the North Pacific Ocean. At 17, on December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. The next day, he and a friend joined the Navy. They wanted the Air Force, but it wasn’t taking anyone that day.

Trained as a gunner in the Navy Air Corps, Glennon operated a machine gun turret on a PV-1 Ventura, shooting down enemy aircraft during bomb runs on Japanese targets. Missions every three days became the norm for nearly a year.

One day, enemy fire brought down Glennon’s plane, sending him and six comrades into remote ocean waters off Alaska’s coast. “A lot was going through my mind,” Glennon recalls as an 18-year-old. “Was I going to live?”

Rescue and Recovery

After deploying his flotation device, Glennon helped five of his men board and watched another try to swim for safety. Fishermen spotted the plane’s lights and heard a shot Glennon fired, leading to their rescue. “One of our guys was just floating, unconscious. They picked him up,” Glennon recalls.

After spending four days under caring villagers’ protection, the Navy took the rescued men to a Seattle hospital for recovery. Once well enough for duty, Glennon was sent to the South Pacific, becoming a gunnery school instructor.

Life After War

With the war’s end, Glennon returned home to Maywood and his fiancée, Virginia. “She was waiting for me,” he says about their swift wedding upon his return. Glennon embarked on a career as a teacher and principal at Butler Junior High School in Oak Brook.

Though he inspired students, Glennon kept war experiences private. Defending democracy “was just something we had to do,” he says.

The Glennons’ 75-year marriage gave them three children, seven grandchildren, and a growing number of great-grandchildren. Providing family news, Glennon states, “There are more coming.”

Later Years and Legacy

After retiring, Glennon and Virginia moved to Prairie Path in Lombard, formerly Lexington Square, where they stayed until Virginia passed away nearly five years ago. “Love is the best thing there is. I was just so lucky,” Glennon reflects. “It was a wonderful life.”

Despite this loss, Glennon remains surrounded by friends and attentive staff at Prairie Path. A typical day begins with breakfast around 8 a.m. followed by leisurely outdoor walks. Though he stopped driving three years ago, Glennon remains fast on his feet.

Including indoor workouts, music, and fitness activities, Glennon joins most gatherings. He enjoys a Manhattan with lunch every day. Having his family nearby, he sees his relatives often, including Sunday dinners with daughter Adriene.

Leading into July Fourth weekend, Glennon stood before the Wall of Honor, reflecting on the past. In the basement at Prairie Path, his Navy photo is displayed among other veterans.

Though reluctant to share opinions on world changes, Glennon, who turns 102 in October, is grateful for his life. “I’ve tried to stay out of politics,” he notes. “My life has been good – I’ve been fortunate. Things were easier back then … now, I’m just glad to be here.”