Glen Howard Knisley
| NAME: Glen Howard Knisley | NICKNAME: “The Music In His Bones Boy” | SERVICE NUMBER: 510189 | |||||
| HOME OF RECORD: 73 Elm Street, River Rouge, MI | NEXT OF KIN: Wife, Mrs. June P. Knisley | ||||||
| DATE OF BIRTH: 1/12/1924 | SERVICE DATES: 12/3/1942 – 7/13/1944 | DATE OF DEATH: 7/13/1944 | |||||
| CAMPAIGN | UNIT | MOS | RATE | RESULT | |||
| Roi-Namur | C/1/24 | 745 | PFC | WIA | |||
| Saipan | C/1/24 | 746 | PFC | KIA | |||
| INDIVIDUAL DECORATIONS: Silver Star, Purple Heart with Gold Star | LAST KNOWN RANK: Private First Class | ||||||
Burial: White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery, Troy, Michigan
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Glen H. Knisley (MCSN: 510189), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as an Automatic Rifleman serving with the First Battalion, Twenty-Fourth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Marianas Group, from 15 June to 13 July 1944. Serving with a squad assigned to eliminate the remaining hostile resistance in the area, Private First Class Knisley unhesitatingly volunteered to enter a cave known to be occupied by the enemy and, fighting his gun skillfully and with heroic determination in the face of enemy opposition, personally accounted for several Japanese soldiers before he was mortally wounded by enemy machine-gun fire. Private First Class Knisley’s indomitable fighting spirit and valiant disregard for personal safety were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Glen Knisley at River Rouge High School, 1942.
Glen's Selective Service registration. Although some civilian documents spell his name "Glenn," he used "Glen" in the service.
!["Marine PFC Richard O. Knisley, son of Mr. & Mrs. Harold G. Knisley, River Rouge, Michigan, kneels in prayer at his brother's grave on Saipan. His brother, PFC Glen H. Knisley, was killed while hunting snipers out of caves in the last days of fighting on the island. Surviving is Mrs. [June P.] Knisley, 73 Elm Street, River Rouge."](https://i0.wp.com/1-24thmarines.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/knisley_gh_grave.jpg?fit=1200%2C1660&ssl=1){kind=link}
"Marine PFC Richard O. Knisley, son of Mr. & Mrs. Harold G. Knisley, River Rouge, Michigan, kneels in prayer at his brother's grave on Saipan. His brother, PFC Glen H. Knisley, was killed while hunting snipers out of caves in the last days of fighting on the island. Surviving is Mrs. [June P.] Knisley, 73 Elm Street, River Rouge."
The Detroit Free Press, 6 January 1949.