Glen was the son of Edric Eastham Marsh and Esther Alvina Greely who married 28 Sept 1921. Esther was 16 years old and a year after the marriage Glen was born in Hoquiam, WA, followed by his sister, Louise Evelyn, born c1923.
Glen's parents divorced and his mother, Esther, remarried Frank Orval Myers on 25 Oct 1925. Frank, AKA Frank Harry Myers, was born in Winnipeg, Man, Canada, Jan 21, 1905. He immigrated from Vancover, BC, to Seattle, WA in Aug 1925, two months before he married Esther. In 1930, the family was living in Grays Harbor, Hoquiam, WA. Glen was 7 years old.
When Glen registered for the draft on June 30, 1942, he was 19 years old and living with his family in Portland, Multnomah, OR.
He enlisted in the USN on Oct 14, 1942 at the NRS in Portland and two days later arrived at the Naval Training Station, Farragut, ID for basic training. Farragut was a new training station that had opened in August with a capacity for 30,000 men. He was likely overwhelmed in such a large facility but he did well there and displayed aptitude for further training. He was advanced to S2c (Seaman 2nd class) and then transferred on Dec 24th to the US Naval Training School (Machinist's Mates), North Dakota State School of Science, Wahpeton, North Dakota.
After successfully completing advanced training on April 16, 1943, Glen was advanced from S2c to F1c (Fireman 1st class). Also, he was granter furlough. Glen's hometown newspaper announced that he was home on leave on April 22, 1943 to visit his parents.
On April 29th, Glen was back in San Francisco and received orders for his first duty assignment. On May 5, 1943 he traveled to Mare Island, Vallejo. CA, walked the gangway and was granted permission to come aboard USS Indianapolis CA-35.
Glen boarded at a very difficult time. The mood was likely somber as men went about their usual duties. The previous day, Indy had departed San Francisco for a short training trip off the coast. The weather was foul and nine men were washed overboard from the starboard side of the main deck aft. Only two men were recovered. One other was seen in the water but disappeared after being hit by the ship's propellor guard. The other six men were never seen in the water and their bodies never recovered. The hard reality of life on board a ship was now clear to Glen and he must have been engulfed in fear and doubt about his decision to join the Navy. But, it was too late now. In two days he would be at sea.
Indy departed Mare Island and conducted training exercises off San Francisco and San Diego until May 15, 1943 when she steamed north for Adak Island, Alaska. The sunny warm weather of CA would be only a memory for the next four months.
Indy anchored in Kuluk Bay, Adak Island on May 23rd. The weather in the Pacific and Bering Sea was dreadfully cold and unforgiving. The seas rolled with torrents of rain, high winds, sleet and snow. Sudden strong storms presented a constant threat to the ship and her crew.
On May 25, 1943 Indianapolis of TG 16.5.16 joined up with TG 16.6, Southern Covering Group (SCG) Operating off Attu. She remained with the TG until the afternoon of the 27th when she joined TG 16.12 in the Northern Covering Area off Attu. She continued service until June 3rd when organized resistance of Attu had been eliminated. She was released from the TG the next day and was ordered to TG 16.12 and continued patrolling the Northern Area until June 29th when she returned to Kuluk Bay. Indy was awarded a battle star for her service in the operation.
After Attu was proclaimed secure, the US forces focused their attention on Kiska, the last enemy stronghold in the Aleutians. On Aug 2, 1943, Indianapolis joined the other small ships of a task force and trained her 8-inch guns, destroying shore-based Japanese hideouts and other facilities on Little Kiska Island.
As part of TG 16.6.2, on Aug 12th, Indy launched her four planes to serve as spotters shortly before she trained her main battery on Gertrude Cove, Kiska Island. She then trained her 5" battery at Bukti Point on Kiska. This was a lucky day for Glen as there was no return fire and all planes were recovered safely.
Indy remained on patrol and in a supportive roll until Aug 25th when she departed for San Francisco and forward to Mare Island, Vallejo, CA for overhaul and refitting. Basically, Glen's feet had not been on land for four months, but he had earned his first battle star. There would be no time for leave or much time ashore.
Indy sailed for Pearl Harbor on Sept 7th. She would remain there and conduct training exercises until early November.
Glen headed for further battle action when Indy left Pearl Harbor on Nov 10th bound for the Gilbert Islands and "Operation Galvanic" against Tarawa and Makin islands. On 19 Nov 1943, Indy, in a force of cruisers, bombarded Tarawa and next day pounded Makin. The ship then returned to Tarawa and acted as a fire-support ship for the landings. That day her guns splashed an enemy plane and shelled enemy strong points as valiant landing parties struggled against fanatical Japanese defenders in an extremely bloody and costly battle. She continued this role until the leveled island was declared secure 3 days later. [DANFS]
returned briefly to Pearl Harbor on Dec 11, 1943. 366 enlisted men and 52 officers disembarked to remain at Pearl until Indy's return from CA. Glen was not one of those lucky crewmembers and would spend Christmas in CA.
Glen would have two reasons to celebrate on Jan 1, 1944. It was not just the new year. He was advanced from F1c to MME3c (Machinist's Mate Engineman, 3rd class). He was now a Petty Officer. This was based upon a major reorganization of the Navy's enlisted structure, effective January 1944. The Engine Room Force rates were brought into line with other branches, and third class engine room petty officers were authorized.
Indy departed Mare Island on New Year's Day for San Francisco. She stayed only long enough to embark officers and passengers for transport to Pearl Harbor where she arrived on Jan 7, 1944. Glen's shipmates who had remained at Pearl came back aboard as the ship prepared to return to the war zone.
She departed the harbor bound for the Marshall Islands to aid in the actions against Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls in late January. Indy entered Kwajalein lagoon on Feb 4th where she remained until the area was secured. Her service ended in the Gilberts after supporting the occupation at Eniwetok.
The Report of Changes for March 5, 1944 shows Glen's rate changed from MME3/c to MM3c. This was likely due to the Navy's reorganization in Jan. This researcher found no listing for a MME rating after this date.
Steaming to the Western Carolinas, Indy took part in the raids on Palau, Yap, Ulithi and Woleai. On April 1, while Indy was operating with a carrier strike force against Woleai, Glen was advanced to MM2c. It had been less than a month since his last advance in rate and rating. This was a testimony to his dedicated and outstanding performance.
On April 10th she left Majuro for Pearl Harbor and on April 22nd she arrived back in San Francisco, CA and on to Mare Island for overhaul. Indy would be in port only eight days before steaming back to Pearl Harbor on May 1st.
When Indy returned to the Pacific, the Central Pacific Force in which she formerly served was now designated the Pacific 5th Fleet and continued under the command of now Admiral Spruance.
This would be a period of brutal service for Glen and no doubt his expertise in the engine room would be called upon many times. From June to Oct 14, 1944, Indy took part in the capture and occupation of Saipan, Battle of the Philippine Sea, the capture and occupation of Guam, the capture and occupation of Tinian in the Northern Marianas Islands and on to the Western Caroline Islands operation for the capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands.
Glen arrived back at Mare Island, CA on Oct 19, 1944 where Indy underwent overhaul and a major refitting following her long Pacific service. In addition, new paint would be applied to the inside and the proud ship would be given a facelift - new camouflage. Her measure 32/7D pattern dazzle camouflage, applied six months earlier, was replaced with measure 22, modified. For the work to be completed, the crew was removed from the ship. Most enlisted men moved to the barracks at the Navy Yard. Many were sent for additional training or service school during this time.
By early December, Glen had been advanced to MM1c. Also, he was granted a 20-day leave and returned home to visit his parents. He would have many stories to share with his loved ones along with a display of pride for his rise through the ratings of the Navy.
With repairs and new paint completed, Indy conducted numerous short trials between Mare Island, San Francisco and San Diego. On Dec 28, 1944, Captain Charles Butler McVay, III, assumed command of Indianapolis. She departed Mare Island on Jan 3, 1945 for San Francisco, then San Diego and forward to Pearl Harbor. On Jan 20th, Adm. Spruance came back aboard.
Glen arrived with his ship on Feb 1, 1945 at Ulithi Atoll, two weeks before she made the first attack on Tokyo on Feb 14th. Throughout the action, Indianapolis played her vital role of support ship. She sailed on to Iwo Jima where action began on the 19th. Indianapolis did her share of the bombardment of the island where Japanese soldiers hid in and attacked US forces from subterranean tunnels. She moved back to Tokyo to Honshu and Nansei Shoto for more bombardment of the islands and remained until the operation ended on Mar 1st.
During the Iwo Jima operation Indianapolis was hit by a Japanese kamikaze plane on Mar 31st. Nine men were killed and 20 injured. Glen's was not among the injured. Indy limped back to Mare Island, CA, for repairs and refitting, where she would remain for two-and-a-half months. Glen was granted leave in May and he visited with his parents in Portland as well as his aunt and uncle in Jefferson, OR.
Glen was awarded 1 silver star, representing 5 bronze stars, and 4 bronze stars to place on his Asiatic-Pacific ribbon representing the 9 battle stars awarded to Indianapolis since he had been on board.
At Mare Island, Glen and his shipmates prepared for a top-secret delivery to the island of Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands. No one on board knew the contents of their cargo when they departed on July 16, 1945.
After the delivery, Indianapolis departed Tinian and after a short stop at Apra Habor, Guam, she sailed for Leyte, her final destination. Half-way there, on July 30, 1945, Indy was struck by two torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-58 and sank in 12 minutes.
Glen made it off the ship and into the water. Norman H. Roberts, MM1c, survivor, told the following story:
At dawn, after the sinking, Roberts found and joined a group of men in the water who were hanging onto a floater net. In the group was his very good friend, Glen Myers. "Glen had a nice diamond ring. He told me he had lost his mine the previous night and thought the ship was under us. He dove down and drank the sea water. He asked me to see that his mother got his diamond ring. I encouraged him that he would make it home, but he died a couple of hours later in my arms. All I could do at that point was take off his life jacket and push him away. I was never able to give the ring to his mother, since it slipped off of my finger while I was in the water." (Only 316 Survived)
Glenn was awarded the Purple Heart, posthumously. His name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Philippines.
Glen, brave and faithful sailor, you are not forgotten.
Source CreditsAncestry.com file of Robert Coplin
1930 US Census, WA, Grays Harbor, Hoquiam. HH #45 citing family of Frank O. Myers.
The Oregon Daily Journal, Thurs, April 22, 1943, p. 10; citing home on leave.
The Sunday Oregonian, Sun, Dec 10, 1944, p. 17; citing home on 20-day leave
The Oregon Statesman (Salem, OR), Sun, Aug 19, 1945, p. 11; citing MIA.
The Capital Journal (Salem, OR), Wed, Aug 22, 1945, p. 7; citing Myers and Wolfe MIA.
Great Oregon, (Albany) Fri, Aug 31, 1945, p. 3; citing two Jefferson men missing.
USN: WWII Enlisted Rates: Engine Room, Artificer Branch. Online
https://uniform-reference.net/insignia/usn/usn_ww2_enl_engine_room.html
Murphy, M. L. (Ed.). Only 316 survived! USS Indianapolis Survivors Organization, (2025), p. 567; citing Norman H. Roberts
Navy Department, Casualty Section, Office of Public Information (1946): Combat Connected Naval Casualties, WWII, by States; Vol.
(MT-WY); Oregon, p. 9; citing parents Mr and Mrs Frank Myers, Portland, OR.
Rank / Rating: MM2-Machinist's Mate Second Class
ABBOTT, George Stanley 
FRONTINO, Vincent Fred 
AMICK, Homer Irwin