<p>
No experience tests human endurance and one’s character more than combat. GEN W.C. Westmoreland knew this when he told the Corps of Cadets in 1967 that the sign of a true professional is to march to the sound of the guns. <em>CPT Glen Simmang Ivey</em>, met his destiny by "marching to the sound of the guns" in the Republic of Viet Nam in 1972 when he was killed in action while serving as an advisor to the 2d Brigade of South Viet Nam’s Airborne Division (MACV Advisory Team 162).</p>
<p>
Throughout Glen’s brief military career and as a cadet, he demonstrated a willingness to always move towards the center of the action and to meet all challenges head on. Glen was an "Army brat," born in Japan while his father, Henry Ivey ’42, served on occupation duty. Glen was fascinated by his father’s airborne assignments, and proudly proclaimed, at the age of seven, that some day he would be Airborne.</p>
<p>
As a teenager, Glen lived in Verdun, France, and joined the Boy Scouts to learn new skills that would enable him to enjoy the outdoors and prepare himself to be an Airborne trooper. At Ft. Campbell, KY, and later, when the family moved to West Point in 1961, Glen excelled in scouting and was awarded his Eagle Scout badge by (then) MG W.C. Westmoreland. Glen was committed to being the goalie on the Lacrosse Club. His teammates admired his fearlessness and ability to take a continuous pounding.</p>
<p>
Glen enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve on his 17th birthday to qualify for an appointment to West Point. Although he entered USMA with enthusiasm, Glen was not one to excel in academics—he excelled with people. He was especially popular with young ladies and gained notoriety for almost simultaneously giving an "A" pin to two different girls. His ability to juggle his many girlfriends while playing B-Squad lacrosse, catch up on his sleep, and stay ahead of TACs and off the Dean’s "other list," amazed his classmates and impressed the underclassmen.</p>
<p>
As a Second Classman, Glen volunteered his summer leave to go to Panama to attend Jungle School before being assigned as an Infantry platoon leader in the Canal Zone. As a First Classman, Glen readily absorbed military history and began to study the Viet Nam Conflict. He read everything he could find on the French in Indochina and the U.S. Army’s difficulties and successes in Viet Nam. Glen volunteered for Airborne and Ranger schools before attending the Basic Course. His initial assignment was with A Company (Airborne), 3d Battalion, 5th Infantry in Panama—the airborne reaction force for the 193rd Infantry in Panama. Glen later became Battalion Adjutant, where he was commended for a joint service parachute operation that he coordinated with the Panamanian Airborne Police Platoon. Glen was on jump status in Panama for 22 months and acted as jumpmaster on many of his 36 jumps. Glen also volunteered to sponsor the contingent of USMA cadets coming to Latin and South American countries. He wanted their training events to be more meaningful and realistic then it was for him. Afterwards, he was cited for having set the standard that future cadet visits’ would be judged. Glen began skydiving in Panama and completed 80 jumps in one year. His last year in Panama he was an Infantry company commander, where he was in his element and loved every minute he served with troops. His tour ended with high praise for his company’s accomplishments, and many of his non-commissioned officers wrote personal letters of appreciation that Glen cherished.</p>
<p>
Glen was selected to be an advisor in Viet Nam and attended the Military Advisor and Training Assistance Course at Ft. Bragg. He began studying the Vietnamese language on his own, to compliment his French abilities, making him a more competent advisor. In spite of his training, Glen was assigned to the 1st Cav. Division as Division Public Information Officer. Glen devoted himself to the less-than-glamorous duties that he was called to perform and gained a reputation as an officer who would accomplish mundane, but important, tasks with great efficiency.</p>
<p>
Glen longed for Airborne duty and was given the nickname, "Airborne Pride." Fate gave Glen the chance to return to Airborne duty when several U.S. advisors to the Vietnamese Airborne Div. were wounded. The Commander of MACV Advisory Team 162 interviewed Glen, and later stated that he selected him because of his overriding enthusiasm and positive outlook, even though he lacked the experience of most officers selected to be Airborne advisors.</p>
<p>
The combat situation in Viet Nam was deteriorating rapidly, and within days of his assignment, Glen was in the field helping coordinate helicopter evacuation of 155mm artillery pieces from various mountaintop firebases. One time, after the last artillery piece was removed, he and a South Vietnamese Airborne squad fought their way down the mountain to link up with other South Vietnamese Airborne forces at a nearby firebase. Within the 2d Brigade, Glen’s major responsibilities were to coordinate resupply, as well as coordinate artillery and air strike missions for Vietnamese Airborne units engaged in combat.</p>
<p>
In his last letter, given to an American helicopter pilot, Glen recognized that he might not survive the next combat operation. Glen stated with confidence and serenity that he wanted to do the right thing by remaining with the Vietnamese Airborne Forces, even though MACV Headquarters had ordered all American advisors out, unless they volunteered to stay. Glen’s letter tells of his commitment to "march to the sounds of the guns" and to help make life better for those airborne troops with whom he fought and had come to know personally.</p>
<p>
Glen’s unit was flown to Kontum to assist the remnants of the South Vietnanese Army, local officials, and their families in an evacuation to Pleiku. The 2d Brigade fought their way to Pleiku, taking the non-combatants and Vietnamese Army stragglers with them. After an 18-hour evacuation, the 2d Brigade arrived at the outskirts of Pleiku, moved into Firebase 42, an abandoned regimental firebase, and set up a defensive perimeter for the night. Glen’s last hours were spent manning radios in the command bunker to call in air strikes and helicopters for medevac and re-supply. When Firebase 42 came under attack by a North Vietnamese reinforced regiment, witnesses described an incredible barrage of over 100 mortar rounds in the first two minutes of the attack, followed by numerous sapper teams who breached the perimeter defenses. The Airborne soldiers fought gallantly, and Glen manned the radios until a satchel charge blew out one end of the bunker. Glen and the remaining Vietnamese paratroopers defended their bunker until they were all killed by a B-40 rocket.</p>
<p>
Glen was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star for Valor, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Viet Nam Campaign Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, Vietnamese Service Medal, and Vietnamese Parachutist Badge. Glen’s confident and overwhelming enthusiasm, and his concern and compassion for his troops will forever be the hallmark of his life. CPT Glen Simmang Ivey’s dedication to duty in the face of overwhelming odds represents the best our country has produced.</p>
<p>
And now as memories linger, Glen’s spirit soars with the eagles.</p>
<p>
<em>Your loving twin and classmate, Karl F. Ivey</em></p>