Pvt. Glenn Wesley Nordquist was born in Chicago, Illinois, on October 25, 1925, to Clarence Nordquist and Evelyn M. Johnson-Nordquist, and had one brother. His family resided at 1820 South Eleventh Avenue, Maywood, Illinois. He graduated from Garfield School and then attended Proviso Township High School. While he was a senior in high school, on October 21, 1943, he registered with Selective Service and named his father as his contact person. He left school during his last semester, was drafted into the US Army on March 3, 1944, and received his high school diploma in the Army. His serial number was 36 951 586.
What is known about his training is that he was at Fort McClellan, Alabama, Ft. Benning, Georgia, Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, where he became a member of the 276th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division, and Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts for transfer to Europe. The division landed in Marseille, France from December 10th to 15th. On the 28th took took up positions along the west bank of the Rhine River. When the Germans launched Operation Northwind in an attempt support the Ardennes Offensive – better known as the Battle of the Bulge – the 276th as part of the 70th Division, fought to stop the Germans at Philipps Bourg, at Wingen between Bitche, France and Hagenau, Germany.
The division next took part in the Oetingen Raids as it readied a mid-February offensive that started on the 17th. It attacked just below the Saar River and took the high ground overlooking Saarbrücken, smashed into Forbach, took Stiring-Wendel, and continued across the Saar to take Saarbrücken, It pushed through the Siegfried Line defenses on March 20, 1945. It then took Völklingen and other Saarland cities and towns.
On May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered ending the war in Europe. The 276th was in Saarbrucken, Germany. His company was living in a home. Exactly what happened is not known, but Glenn was found in a third floor in the building with a gunshot wound, from a carbine, in his the chest. The Army stated that there was no evidence that foul play was involved and there was also no evidence that his death was a suicide. It concluded the shooting was an accident.
His parents received a telegram dated May 31, 1945.
CLARENCE NORQUIST
1820 SOUTH 11TH AVENUE
MAYWOOD ILLINOIS
THE SECRETARY OF WAR DESIRES OF ME TO EXPRESS HIS DEEPEST REGRET THAT YOUR SON PRIVATE GLENN W NORQUIST WAS KILLED ON TEN MAY IN GERMANY LETTER FOLLOWS
ULIO THE ADJUTANT GENERAL
A letter followed the telegram but its content is not known. His parents received another letter that was dated February 28, 1946, telling them that Glenn was buried at the United States Military Cemetery, Saint. Avold, France in Plot DD, Row 2, Grave 33. It is not known if he had been taken there for burial or if he had been buried somewhere else and moved there when the American Graves Registration Service began moving the dead to one cemetery.
Another letter followed that was dated January 23, 1948, providing Glenn’s parents with their options for his final burial. They were asked to fill-out and return an enclosed form indicating where they wanted Glenn buried. The Office of the Quartermaster General received the completed form on February 12, 1948, indicating that Glenn should be returned to Illinois.
Glenn was exhumed from the cemetery at Saint Avold, and sent by train sent to the CIC Casketing Point, Antwerp, Belgium on November 20, 1948, and then remained there until February 15, 1949, when his casket was placed on the USAT Barney Kirschbaum which sailed the same day. The ship arrived at the New York Port of Entry on March 10, 1949, and the next day, by train with a military escort, his casket was sent to the Quartermaster Corps Distribution Center #8 in Chicago and arrived on March 14th. On the 30th, in a military hearse, with an escort, his casket was sent to the Senne Funeral Home in Maywood. Illinois. He was buried at Forest Home Cemetery, Forest Park, Illinois, in Section 48, Lot 417.
