Louis John Glavan
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
GLAVAN, Louis John
Louis John Glavan was born on January 19th 1922 to Franc & Marija [Virant] Glavan in Kinney, Minnesota.
Mr. Glavan entered the Army on November 25th 1942. Home at entry: Kinney, Minnesota.
He joined the First Infantry Division in North Africa as a replacement just before the Battle of El Guettar in March 1943. He was assigned to 'A' Company, 18th Infantry Regiment..He served as a Sergeant in North Africa and during the Italian Campaign in Sicily.
SGT Glavan then went ashore in the second wave on Omaha Beach on D-Day on June 6th 1944. After they fought across France and Belgium; in the Hürtgen Forest, in the Battle of the Ardennes and they crossed the Rhine River on March 23rd 1945.
SGT Glavan was killed in action (KIA) in Aachen, Germany, on March 30th 1945. He is buried at: Plot D Row 21 Grave 9 Netherlands American Cemetery Margraten, Netherlands.
He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star on September 13th 1944. His citation for the Bronze Star reads:
"When his platoon was ambushed by an enemy force and his squadron leader was wounded, Sgt. Glavan immediately assumed command, deployed men and weapons into strategic positions and, with accurately directed fire, held the foe at bay until supporting troops arrived and repulsed the assault. Sgt. Glavan's courage and initiative were directly responsible for preventing heavy loss of life."
Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 90.
Editor's note: SGT Glavan brother, Army Private First Class Fred Glavan, also was killed in action in Europe.
Albert J. Amatuzio Research Center | Veterans Memorial Hall (vets-hall.org)
Page 32 WWII Army and Army Air Force Casualty List - Fold3
Sgt Louis J Glavan (1922-1945) - Find a Grave Memorial
Ancestry.com - U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
