Roland Glenn served as a platoon leader and company commander in the 7th Infantry Division in World War II. He saw his first combat in Okinawa, an experience that forever changed the kid from Western Pennsylvania. “I was in charge of leading about 200 soldiers, an enormous amount of responsibility for someone 20 years old. . . . I was trained to kill and that is exactly what I did on Okinawa but there is nothing in our training that really prepares us for the taking of another human life.” After the Japanese surrender, Roland was tasked with repatriating Japanese soldiers from Korea. He got to know the enemy for the first time and began his process of healing from war.

Interview with Roland Glenn conducted by Todd DePastino in Kittery, Maine, 2012.

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