On May 12, 2026, we had the honor of conducting a Buddy Check. This was not a routine check of one of our fellow Legionnaires, but rather a visit with a World War II veteran.
Glenn Lytle has been a member of American Legion Oscar M. Hykes Post 223 in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, for 42 consecutive years.
Lytle enlisted in the service while still in his senior year of high school. His yearbook noted: “Seniors in Reserve Corps — These boys received their ‘Silver Wings’ and were enrolled in the Air Force Enlisted Reserve.”
Lytle and eight of his classmates joined the Army Air Corps, while two others enlisted in the Naval Air Corps. He served during World War II from 1944 to 1947. Discharged in the summer of 1947, he returned to Shippensburg and married A. Louise Hoch on Aug. 27, 1950. Just three weeks before their wedding, the couple purchased a home at 222 E. Garfield Street, where Glenn still lives today.
God willing, this remarkable WWII veteran will celebrate his 100th birthday this December 2026.
Glenn fondly remembers returning to Shippensburg after the war. He first went to work at Smith’s Furniture Store, which was located across from where Sheetz stands today. “Mr. Smith repurposed antique furniture — something I wasn’t really interested in, but it was a job,” Lytle recalled. He stayed only three months before moving on to work for John Franklin, delivering propane gas and servicing gas appliances.
Unfortunately, the greatest generation is fading. As of 2025, only about 45,418 of the 16.4 million Americans who served in World War II remain alive — less than 0.5% of those who answered the call. For today’s veterans — those who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea, or elsewhere — honoring this dwindling generation is not mere nostalgia. It is a vital act of preserving military heritage, drawing inspiration, and strengthening the unbroken chain of service that defines the U.S. Armed Forces.
I am truly grateful that The American Legion supports the Buddy Check program. It’s beautifully simple: we veterans simply reach out to our brothers and sisters, check on their well-being and listen. That small act of care means more than most people realize — and it is deeply appreciated. Special thanks to Tim Wright and Wendy Tomczak for accompanying me on this Buddy Check.
Post 223 Commander
Nelson Maldonado
