PVT Glenn Elbert Kern (WWII)

Remembering PVT Glenn Elbert Kern (Fairmont)

April 30, 1914 - November 19, 1944

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"He has a noble, gentle temper." -1932 FSHS Yearbook, Glenn Kern's class quote

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PVT Glenn Elbert Kern (service #35760006) was born in Fairmont, West Virginia on April 30, 1914, the son of Carl and Violet (Goddard) Kern. When Glenn was born, their family lived at "1234 6th Street," and Carl was a police officer (1915 Fairmont City Directory). By 1917 they had moved to 1106 Field Street, which would be Glenn's home for the rest of his life (1917 Fairmont City Directory).

Carl had several theater jobs after 1917, including stage carpenter (1923 City Directory), maintenance man, and stage hand (1930 Census). Unfortunately, Carl's health took a turn for the worse, and by 1940 he was a patient at Saranac Lake in New York, which was well known at the time for their treatment of tuberculosis (based on the 1940 census and 1938 City Directory, this likely happened between 1938 and 1940). 

Education:

Glenn was a 1933 graduate of Fairmont Senior High School. While at FSHS, he participated in the art club, history club, Hi-Y, and was on the basketball, where he played as the center his senior year. The 1933 Fairmont Senior Maple Leaves yearbook noted alongside his name that his ambition was to be an engineer.

After graduating from Fairmont Senior, Glenn went on to attend Fairmont State Teachers College. Glenn participated in many activities at Fairmont State, including basketball (Captain, 1936), Sigma Pi Rho Latin Fraternity (vice-president, 1936), Tau Beta Iota Fraternity, Greek Club, Inter-Fraternity Council, and was a Freshman Counselor. In 1936, the FSTC Mound Yearbook notes that Glenn was voted "Cleverest Boy."

The 1936 Mound also notes: "Shang' played his third year of varsity basketball this season, having won his position as regular center during his freshman year, where his extreme height has been getting the tip-off for Fairmont. He has proved a willing pupil for Coach Colebank and in addition to improving his game in the center ring he has developed his shooting ability to a high degree of excellence. 'Shanghai' hails from Fairmont, where he was a star at West Fairmont High. He is one of the most popular students on campus. He adds to his laurels each year by his star roles in the T.B.I. shows where his real talent for the stage gets ample opportunity for expression. His serio-comic renditions of mountain ballads are locally famous."

Glenn graduated in 1937 with a bachelor's degree in Latin.

Note: Glenn was in the Tau Beta Iota fraternity with two other Marion County Fallen Servicemembers- William Watson and Frank Evans. Fairmont State's TBI chapter lost 8 brothers in service during WWII.

Life after Fairmont State:

After graduating from Fairmont State, Glenn worked as a projectionist at the Fairmont Theater (1938 City Directory) and Virginia Theater (1939 City Directory).

Glenn entered the draft on October 16, 1940. At the time, he was employed at the Lee Theater on Adams Street (which is now the parking lot between Westbanco and Mama Di Roma). Glenn was 6'3" and 190 lbs, with brown hair, brown eyes, and light brown skin.

The 1941 and 1943 Fairmont City Directories show Glenn as a projectionist at the Lee Theater, married to Emma Pauline Snoderly.

Military Service:

Glenn enlisted on August 18, 1943 in Clarksburg, WV, and became a member of the 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, Company F.

Having worked their way across France and Germany, the 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, Company F attacked Hamich, Germany on November 16-17, 1944, before moving into position in the Hürtgen Forest on November 18, 1944.

PVT Glenn Elbert Kern was killed in action on November 19, 1944 in the Hürtgen Forest. 

Survivors and Legacy:

After the conclusion of the war, Glenn was interred at the Historic Woodlawn Cemetery in Fairmont, WV. He is at rest next to his parents. Glenn was survived by his wife, Pauline, and his parents. Unfortunately, Glenn's father, Carl Kern, succumbed to tuberculosis on August 18, 1946, before Glenn was returned home to West Virginia (1947).

PVT Glenn Elbert Kern is honored on the "Marion County Veterans Killed in Action" Memorial at Veterans Square in Fairmont, WV, and at the  West Virginia Veterans Memorial in Charleston, WV. 

Sources and More Information:



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