91-years-old and as thriving as can be, Waterford Estates resident Glen Ward has one of the most lively, personable and helpful personalities this world has ever seen! A man of much depth, his life story is a unique in many ways and he has used his life experiences to share, equip, encourage and challenge others around him. As a World War II Veteran and being an African American in a time of increasing racism, he has had quite the journey of work, travel and all things in between.
Elijah Glen Ward Jr. was born in Halls, Tenn., in December of 1924, and came to Chicago as an infant with his mother and family. He is the 7th of 7 boys but sadly, many of those boys passed at an early age. He was involved in boy scouts and ROTC and was a hard-worker and determined boy from a young age. He went to grade school and high school in Chicago but attended college in East Texas at Prairieview in September 1942. He enrolled in ROTC and quickly became Sergeant Major and Captain of the Rifle Squad.
“I got on a train in Chicago and sometime between there and Texas, we made a stop at a station a few hundred miles outside of where I was to go to school, but I didn’t know that. I got off the train at the wrong station and all of my luggage got lost. I had to work hard and make money to buy all new stuff. It was just one of many things I learned from,” Glen said.
Ward stayed in college until May of 1943, when he was drafted for the army, and had to move back to Chicago. Upon arriving, he immediately went to Michigan to a reception center where he was able to give a request on where he would like to do training.
“I begged them to send me to the west coast, because much racism was happening in the south. So they sent me and twelve others on a train to south Portland, to a unit where they prepped us for overseas wartime. But, we didn’t do basic training. It was more of a simplified version. I took an intense engineering course in a nearby city and by January, we were headed to New Jersey to get on a boat going to Scotland, and later on, England,” Ward recalled.
Once landed in Glasgow, England, his convoy was moved down to England where they were housed from February 1944 until the beginning of June 1944. This was a time of no combat for his specific troop, so him and his comrades were immersed completely in the British culture, which he recalls as a great time and experience. Ward was assigned to the hospital as a surgical technician, and also ran the equipment center for all the American troops located in nearby towns in England.
“I was just 19-years-old on D-Day. It was a cloudy day and as I looked up at the sky headed toward France on June 6th, 1944, I knew combat was on. Our pilots couldn’t see where to drop bombs on the German bunker positions in Normandy but I remember they just did the best they could. Germany used drones so we frequently had to hide in foxholes,” Ward said.
“I learned so much about God in those moments, living through death, destruction and momentary scares,” Ward quietly mentioned.
Many American Troops returned to America but because of his race, Ward was required to stay on ground in Germany and France until President Truman declared troops not to be segregated. Ward returned to Chicago in May 1946, and stayed in the army reserve, until he joined the National Guard and became an administrative assistant at a law firm, where he stayed working until 1964.
During those 20 or so years, much happened in Ward’s life. He attended college, law school and aviation school, but decided it wasn’t for him. Instead, he worked as a bus driver for 9 years, and eventually worked for the National Guard as a captain. He met his wife in May of 1952, whom was a history teacher at Alabama State and they had 5 children shortly after.
After leaving his clerk position at the law firm, Ward began to work for Prudential Insurance Company in 1964, because they were one of the only ones that hired blacks.
“It was a very fruitful and profitable experience. I did well in this business and worked for almost 20 years in that field, when I eventually started a personal business dealing with home improvements,” Ward recalled.
His 33 years of military service served him well, including overseas time in the army during World War II, plus a member and captain of National Guard, and Ward eventually retired from the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) and infantry offices in the 70s, when he began his business endeavor in home improvements.
He gave up the business and his kids told him it was time to look into a retirement community near for him and his wife. His kids mentioned Waterford and after a quick tour, Ward and his wife moved into Waterford in June 2013. But, somehow, some of the most monumental moments have happened yet for Ward, proving his life has really just begun, as he says.
“In January 2016, my family fund is starting ‘Ward College,’ which is for people who dropped out, didn’t go to school, to give certificates for occupational jobs and give people a second chance. I’ve enjoyed a good life and I’m grateful. God gave me this idea and I believe this will be my footprint from here on out,” Ward said.
Glen Ward is a resident ambassador and is always seen helping others, no matter the cost.
“I do it for the people here. I listen, I’m transparent and I help them. It’s simple. You can be successful by giving yourself simple assignments each day. God has given me the energy and talent to do it. All that I want to do, I can do still and am in the condition to do so,” Glen enthusiastically stated!
Last year, he was able to go on an Honors Flight to D.C., where more than 2,000 people welcomed him and others at the airport waving flags. He said it was “a life-changing experience to see how much has changed in our culture since the last time he was welcomed home from service.”
He has some wise, legacy-filled words to leave with us on how he has chosen to live his life and view his time here at Waterford.
“I’m entering my golden years with all that I’ve dreamed about. I’ve found the full value of living and helping and making people smile! It has relieved stress and is why I’m standing here today, strong and healthy,” Ward chuckled assuredly.
Wow, what a legacy and a man who lived a “life worthwhile.” We are honored to have him in our community here and he is a blessing to each person he encounters, staff, resident or stranger.
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