PFC Glen Wayne Shawgo

courtesy of Frogman

PFC Glen Wayne Shawgo was born 26 Nov 1914 in Dunlap, Kansas. He was the 3rd of the 5 children born to Mark Vernon and Mabel (Russell) Shawgo. His father initially farmed in Morris county, Kansas but later moved to Superior, Kansas where he worked as a truck driver for a produce company. The dust bowl of the 1930s undoubtedly affected the family (both Dunlap and Superior are now listed as "ghost" towns with very small population even now 84 years after the worst of the dust storms). Glen's mother was killed in a single-vehicle accident in Council Grove, Kansas and his father moved to Salem, Oregon to find work. However, Glen stayed behind living in Osage City, Kansas where he worked for Ed Gilday, an agent for Shelly Oil Company.

Glen was probably drafted in mid to late 1943. After his basic training he was sent to the European theater and soon after D-Day found himself in France where he was transferred from the replacement depot to L Company 116th Infantry on 25 Jun 1944. He served as a rifleman in that unit, fighting in the bocage until killed in action near Saint Lo, France on 11 Jul 1944.

PFC Shawgo rests forever in the Normandy American Cemetery. There is also a cenotaph to his memory in the Osage City Cemetery in Osage City, Kansas.

Glen had 2 brothers who also served in WW2. Dale Frank Shawgo served in the U.S. Army 1939-1945. Leland Richard Shawgo served in the U.S. Army 1941-1945. Great-grandfather William M. Russell served as a PVT in D Company 179th Ohio Infantry (USA) in the Civil War.