[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 187 (Wednesday, November 28, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S7181]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM GLANVILLE

  Mr. TOOMEY. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize William 
Glanville of Milford, PA. Mr. Glanville is a U.S. Navy veteran who 
served in World War II. I am pleased that he will soon be honored by 
his fellow veterans from Pike County and the surrounding region for his 
lifetime of service, dedication to his nation, and commitment to his 
fellow veterans as a longtime member of the American Legion.
  Born and raised in Carbondale, PA, Mr. Glanville enlisted in the U.S. 
Navy in 1943 and eventually volunteered to join the then newly formed 
Underwater Demolition Teams, UDTs--the forerunners of the U.S. Navy 
SEALs. Known as frogmen, UDTs were an elite force established during 
World War II to fulfill a specialized mission, including to conduct 
beach reconnaissance, submarine operations, and lay and clear 
underwater mines. UDTs would participate in numerous conflicts in the 
decades following World War II.
  Mr. Glanville was first assigned to a UDT deployed to the European 
Theater, where he worked with his fellow frogmen to clear the beaches 
of Normandy prior to D-Day, undoubtedly one of the most important 
assaults conducted by the Allied Forces during the war. After this 
operation, Mr. Glanville was assigned to the Pacific Theater where he 
participated in missions at Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, Saipan, and Borneo. 
After the Japanese surrender on August 15, 1945, Mr. Glanville's UDT 
unit completed the underwater survey of the USS Missouri in preparation 
for the surrender ceremonies that took place on September 2, 1945. 
Through their heroic action during World War II, men like Mr. Glanville 
played a critical role in the Allied victory and laid the foundation 
for today's modern naval special warfare units.
  Following his retirement from the Navy in 1955, Mr. Glanville 
returned home to Carbondale but worked in New Jersey as a construction 
equipment operating engineer until his retirement. He then moved to 
Pike County, PA and became actively involved with the Marsh Kellogg 
American Legion Post 139 in Milford. As a member of Post 139, Mr. 
Glanville held numerous leadership roles, including executive board 
member, judge advocate, adjutant, second vice commander, first vice 
commander, and twice as commander. In 2016, he was named commander 
emeritus for his enduring service to the post and his community.
  William Glanville's life is distinguished by his dedication to 
service and his possession of exemplary character traits such as 
fidelity, honor, and humility. He is a man who, in his youth, chose a 
path that took him to among the most dangerous parts of the globe in 
the defense of freedom. He participated in some of our Nation's most 
important military operations and did so knowing that he might, like so 
many of his brothers and sisters did over the course of the war, pay 
the ultimate sacrifice for his country. I am pleased to honor his 
accomplishments as his fellow veterans recognize him for a lifetime of 
dedicated service to his nation and his community.

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