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First Name: Glenn

Last Name: English

Birthplace: Altoona, PA, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Army (1784 - present)



Home of Record: Philadelphia, PA
Middle Name: Harry



Date of Birth: 23 April 1940

Date of Death: 07 September 1970

Rank: Staff Sergeant

Years Served: 1962 - 1970
Glenn Harry English, Jr.

   
Engagements:
•  Vietnam War (1960 - 1973)

Biography:

Glenn Harry English, Jr.
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
Vietnam War

Staff Sergeant Glenn Harry English, Jr. (23 April 1940 - 7 September 1970) was a U.S. Army soldier that was posthumously awarded the U.S. military's highest medal for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions in the Vietnam War.

Glenn Harry English, Jr. was born on 23 April 1940, at Altoona, PA. He joined the U.S. Army from Philadelphia, PA. On 7 September 1970, he was serving as a Staff Sergeant in Company E, 3d Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade. On that day, in Phu My District, Republic of Vietnam, he attempted to save a man trapped inside a burning armored personnel carrier, despite warnings the vehicle could explode at any moment. The personnel carrier did explode, and both English and the man he was trying to rescue were killed. For his self-sacrifice, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor

Citation: S/Sgt. English was riding in the lead armored personnel carrier in a 4-vehicle column when an enemy mine exploded in front of his vehicle. As the vehicle swerved from the road, a concealed enemy force waiting in ambush opened fire with automatic weapons and anti-tank grenades, striking the vehicle several times and setting it on fire. S/Sgt. English escaped from the disabled vehicle and, without pausing to extinguish the flames on his clothing, rallied his stunned unit. He then led it in a vigorous assault, in the face of heavy enemy automatic weapons fire, on the entrenched enemy position. This prompt and courageous action routed the enemy and saved his unit from destruction. Following the assault, S/Sgt. English heard the cries of 3 men still trapped inside the vehicle. Paying no heed to warnings that the ammunition and fuel in the burning personnel carrier might explode at any moment, S/Sgt. English raced to the vehicle and climbed inside to rescue his wounded comrades. As he was lifting 1 of the men to safety, the vehicle exploded, mortally wounding him and the man he was attempting to save. By his extraordinary devotion to duty, indomitable courage, and utter disregard for his own safety, S/Sgt. English saved his unit from destruction and selflessly sacrificed his life in a brave attempt to save 3 comrades. S/Sgt. English's conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the cost of his life were an inspiration to his comrades and are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

The name Glenn Harry English, Jr. is inscribed on Panel 07W - Line 44.

Medals and Awards

Medal of Honor
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge
Parachutist Badge

Death and Burial

Staff Sergeant Glenn Harry English, Jr. was killed in action on 7 September 1970. He is buried at the Fort Bragg Main Post Cemetery in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Grave I 288-A.



Honoree ID: 935   Created by: MHOH

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