Meet your Neighbor and Veteran Glen Boyd, born and raised in the LaCrosse area. He is a 1941 graduate of La Harpe High School.
On April 3, 1943 he, Bill Finch and Dean Bradshaw enlisted in the Navy. They endured boot camp at Great Lakes and then Glen was sent to Champaign-Urbana for diesel mechanic school. When his training concluded, he was sent to Norfolk, VA to await the completion of his ship. After notification that it was finished, he boarded a train to Vallejo, CA, then boarded the U.S.S. Weaver (destroyer escort) in Long Beach, CA.
"After a shake down cruise we left the U.S. on March 4, 1944 for Hawaii and south pacific to escort aircraft carriers and tankers between islands," Glen said.
In December 1944 they were caught in a severe typhoon, but came through it okay, but lost two of their sister ships. They were later sent to Iwo Jima to help "shell" the island.
During this time they stayed in Tokyo Bay and were anchored close to the U.S.S. Missouri.
"Our captain was allowed to board the U.S.S. Missouri to witness the signing of the peace treaty," Glen said.
Later Glen sailed from Hawaii to Long Beach, then though the Panama Canal to Philadelphia where he was allowed a thirty day leave to come home.
Upon his return, he was sent to Jacksonville, Florida to board his ship where he was discharged on February 7, 1946.
Glen returned to the area and met Esther Miller of Blandinsville. They married in January 1947. They purchased a farm which he worked for forty-three years. He also was a mail carrier for twenty-eight years.
He and Esther have three children Mike, Jana, and Jan.