Alden Glenwood Glauch of The Villages, was born Nov. 14, 1919, and died April 16, 2015. He was a Major General in the United States Air Force who served as commander, Twenty-First Air Force (Military Airlift Command) at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey.
Glauch was born in 1919 in Traverse City, where he graduated from Traverse City High School in 1937. He attended Texas Western College in El Paso, Texas, and the University of Maryland, where he majored in aeronautical engineering. During World War II he entered active military service in December 1942 and graduated from aviation cadet pilot training with a commission as second lieutenant and his pilot wings in November 1943. Glauch then served as a fighter pilot in North Africa and subsequently with the 64th Troop Carrier Group in Italy, France and the China-Burma Theater of Operations. He was released from active duty in July 1945 and was a member of the Inactive Reserve.
Glauch returned to active duty in February 1949 and was assigned to the 53rd Troop Carrier Squadron at Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, in March 1949 as a pilot and participated in the Berlin Airlift. In September 1949 he was assigned as commander of the 2nd Air Postal Squadron, U.S. Air Forces in Europe. In May 1952 he went to Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts, as aerial port control officer and later was assigned to the 20th Air Transport Squadron to McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, in April 1955 and became squadron commander. In July 1956 he was appointed deputy commander, 1611th Air Transport Group, also at McGuire Air Force Base. Glauch attended the Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, from September 1958 to July 1959. He next went to Thule Air Base, Greenland, as commander, 55th Air Rescue Squadron.
From March 1960 to August 1965 Glauch was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, as chief, MATS and Services Branch and later in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Research and Development as chief, Airlift and Services Branch. He again joined Military Airlift Command in August 1965 as director of current operations, Twenty-second Air Force, Travis Air Force Base, California.
From March 1968 to March 1969 he served as director of operations for the 834th Air Division in the Republic of Vietnam. He returned to McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, in April 1969 as assistant deputy chief of staff, operations and later was deputy chief of staff, operations, Twenty-first Air Force. He again went to Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, as commander, 435th Military Airlift Support Wing in April 1970. In April 1971 Glauch became assistant deputy chief of staff, operations, Military Airlift Command, Scott Air Base, Illinois, and in July 1972 was named deputy chief of staff, operations. He became commander of Twenty-first Air Force, with headquarters at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, in May 1975.
His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation Emblem with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Armed Forces Honor Medal, First Class Order, from the Republic of Vietnam. He is a command pilot with more than 8,000 flying hours. In 1977 received the Order of the Sword. He was promoted to the grade of major general effective June 20, 1973 with date of rank July 1, 1970. He retired on Feb. 1, 1981.
Glauch is survived by his wife of 74 years, Rhea E. (Forton) Glauch; sons, Alden W. and Margaret Glauch, and of Kissimmee, Florida, and Grant Emerson, of St. Petersburg, Florida; daughter, Cheri L. Glauch and fiancé, Dan Bell, of The Villages, Florida.
The family will receive relatives and friends at a visitation to be held at the Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services, 1511 Buenos Aires Blvd., The Villages, Florida, on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 from 5 to 7 p.m., with a prayer service to be conducted by the Rev. Ken Schamens, Em. at 6:30 p.m. Burial with military honors will be held in Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Florida, on Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at 11:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, 1002 S. Maple St., Traverse City, MI 49864.
