Glen McDole

A true American patriot passed from our midst last week. Bro. Glen McDole from Ankeny was called to the Grand Lodge Above on September 3rd. Glen was a Marine in World War II who was captured by the Japanease and held as a POW. Glen was one of the very few who survived the Palawan Island massacre. The Japanease soldiers massacred over 140 of our soldiers on Palawan. After the war, Glen came home and started a career with the Iowa State Patrol and after his retirement from that served as an officer of the Polk County Sheriffs' department for many years. In all with his military and law enforcement career, he served our country almost 50 years.

Glen was a member of Auburn-Union Park Lodge, the Consistory, and Shrine. I invited him to Newton a couple years ago to speak at our evening when we honored our 50 year Masons. Glen was so humbled. He did not seem bitter about what he had went through in WWII. I think he only wanted others to know his story so that it would not ever be repeated again in history and also so that the sacrifices of his fellow comrades would not be forgotten.

This evening I went to Glen's visitation at Highland Park Christian Church. What a testimony to a wonderful man and his life. You could tell that everyone that was there was there to honor a good friend and a true American hero. Rest well my brother.