William Glover

William S. “Bill” Glover was born on 7 October 1935 and entered military service on 18 November 1952, shortly after his seventeenth birthday. An African American Marine, he built a career spanning nearly two decades of active duty, serving as both an enlisted leader and a commissioned officer.

In April 1968, Glover deployed to Vietnam, where he was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11 (MAG-11) and subsequently held the sergeant-major billet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 542 (VMFA-542). On 19 February 1969, he received a temporary commission as a second lieutenant, later advancing to first lieutenant. His service included an assignment as adjutant with the Marine Air Reserve Training Detachment at Selfridge, Michigan.

His other duty stations included San Diego, Iwakuni, El Toro, Okinawa, Camp Lejeune and Marine Barracks Annapolis. After his temporary officer service ended, he returned to the enlisted ranks as a first sergeant and subsequently advanced to sergeant major. At the end of his active-duty career, he was serving as sergeant major of Marine Attack Squadron 223 (VMA-223). His decorations include the Combat Action Ribbon and the Vietnam Service Medal with four campaign stars.

Having experienced military life as both an officer and an enlisted Marine, Glover placed particular importance on communication between commanders and their personnel. In a contemporary newspaper interview, he advocated personal interviews with newly arriving Marines and emphasized that understanding people was an essential part of leadership.

After transferring to the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve, Glover began a real estate career in San Diego. His combined active-duty and Fleet Reserve service ultimately totalled thirty years.