- GLEN ALLEN BJERKE
Edgerton, Wisconsin
August 2, 1967
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- Glen was a country-boy. He was a hard-worker, and had an
inner peacefulness that calmed all those around him. Dedicated
to his country and family, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and
looked forward to being part of the early efforts in Southeast
Asia. He went through the grueling boot camp, more training,
and finally Advanced Infantry Training before being sent to Vietnam.
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- Trained in communications, Glen would arrive in Chu Lai,
a
- picture-postcard area in the northern part of the country
on the South China Sea. Ky Hoa island was an area fit for Glen
- serene, yet in the middle of what was going on. The Army had
previously gone into the area and found that it was a R&R
center for North Vietnamese troops. Search and destroy missions
were carried out, and the Army finally left when they declared
that the area was too unsafe. The Marines moved in and established
the 2nd Battalion of the Light Anti-Aircraft Missile (LAAM) unit.
As the name implies, they would provide air security for the
newly created airstrip and surrounding Marine bases being infused
with the growing escalation.
-
- Ironically, the 2nd LAAM Bn was strategic to overall defense,
but was considered a bastard unit at the time. The Marine Air
Wing felt that they could take care of any threats to Chinese
MIG attacks and the ground-pounders had no clue what a "LAAM"
was... and they were the butt of numerous jokes. Ky Hoa consisted
of a small area of six hamlets, a POW compound, and a truck depot.
For Marines in Vietnam, life became a routine. Security during
the day, incoming rockets at night. Many would take the opportunity
to go to the airstrip to ride as machine-gunners on the helicopters,
as it broke the boredom and do what they joined the Corps for.
In the early evenings, Glen would break out his guitar and sing
Johnny Cash songs and talk of getting a farm when he got back
and raise Appaloosa horses. As darkness fell, he would pack
it away safely and get ready for the never-ending incoming.
-
- On July 15, 1967, Glen turned 21 years old. He talked of
now being able to go into a real bar when he got back home, and
was proud to be a Marine in this upside-down world. Two weeks
later, he would be coming home in a way never anticipated.
-
- On August 2, Glen had been out on a routine security sweep
with a squad to ensure the area was relatively safe for the night.
It had been a long day in the heat and bugs, and he needed some
rest. As darkness started to fall, a common tactic for the NVA
was to fire random sniper fire into areas. It was more psychological
than accurate, and was meant to keep U.S. troops on their toes
and create an aura of exhaustion. Then, after a few hours of
calmness, they would throw in a few rockets to disrupt any kind
of sleep.
-
- Glen had gone into his hut. Minutes later, a shot was heard.
No one thought much of it until one of the radio operators ran
out, screaming. A fellow Marine had found an AK-47 while out
on patrol that day (a prized find back then) and was showing
it off. It went off and a bullet went through Glen's back and
right through the heart. A Corpsman was quickly called, and
Cpl. Bjerke was pronounced dead. It was quick and swift, and
he never saw it coming. Officially, his death would be coded
as 'accidental homicide" in the tallies of the war, along
with 749 other men.
-
- Johnny Cash. Appaloosa horses. 21 and a drink. A farm.
An accident. Let us remember Glen for who he was.
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- Glen Bjerke's name is on the Vietnam Wall at Panel 24E, Line
66.
-
-
- Courtesy of Bruce
Swander
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