Veteran stands honor guard alongside Glenn Highway

WASILLA — No, Dave Glenn wasn’t guarding the Mat-Su against invaders from Anchorage on Tuesday as he stood holding an AR-15 rifle alongside the Knik River bridge across the Glenn Highway on Tuesday morning.

Instead, the Vietnam veteran’s highly visible gesture was intended to honor one of the Mat-Su Valley’s most heroic figures.

“We can’t honor him enough,” the camouflage-clad Glenn said as cars and trucks sped past the busy bridge that bears the name of Medal of Honor recipient SFC James Bondsteel. “This is a national hero.”

On May 24, 1969, Sgt. Bondsteel was credited with saving the lives of several fellow of his fellow soldiers during an almost unbelievable act of bravery. According to his Medal of Honor citation, Bondsteel was wounded by a grenade during the fierce battle in An Loc Province, yet continued to lead the fight during a bloody four-hour battle — taking out 10 enemy bunkers in the process.

“His extraordinary heroism at the risk of his life was in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit and the U.S. Army,” reads Bondsteel’s Medal of Honor citation.

Glenn saw combat in Vietnam during his tour in 1965-66, but says his experiences pale in comparison to what Bondsteel did in 1969.

“I don’t qualify to carry his lunch box,” Glenn said.

However, Glenn said he can keep Bondsteel’s memory alive, and that’s why he was out waving at vehicles alongside one of the state’s busiest highways on Tuesday —Vietnam Veterans Day.

“The fabric of our country is heroes,” he said. “These people inspire us.”

Sgt. Bondsteel moved to the Houston area after a military career that included a Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts and the Soldier’s Medal.

In 1987, Bondsteel was driving on the bridge across the Knik River when a load of logs fell off a truck and struck his car, killing him. He left a wife, Elaine, and two daughters.

Glenn has been standing guard in honor of Sgt. Bondsteel for the past four years. He said he’s crossed the bridge over the Knik “thousands of times,” and one day while driving the highway found himself suddenly struck by inspiration.

“I’m driving by and this voice says, ‘You’re supposed to be doing something,’” he recalled during a roadside interview Tuesday morning.

Glenn said he wasn’t initially sure what that meant. Then it came to him.

“All of the sudden it hit me: Get off your fat duff and get out there and do honor guard for this guy,” he said.

Ever since, Glenn has stood near the sign honoring Sgt. Bondsteel each Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Vietnam Veterans Day. He usually stands for four or five hours, or as long as he can hold up in the chilly Knik River breeze.

“The old knees aren’t what they used to be,” said the 72-year-old "semi-retired" pilot from Wasilla, who served as a paratrooper in the 101^st Airborne Division.

In addition to bringing light to Bondsteel’s story, Glenn said the vigil is a way for him to honor those Vietnam vets who weren’t as fortunate as he was during their time in the war.

“I think, ‘Good lord, what a lucky kid I was,’” by returning from the war unscathed, he said. “58,000 didn’t come home.”

As Glenn stood guard Tuesday, an American flag he brought with him flapped in the chilly breeze. Several people honked their horns in solidarity with his gesture, which Glenn said he sees as a heartwarming sign of respect.

“This is one of the biggest rewards of being out here is the public wants to participate,” he said. “It’s amazing.”

Glenn said he knows some people might be taken aback by the sight of a white-bearded man in camouflage holding a rifle while standing alongside the state’s busiest highway.

“I understand that, I have no problem with that,” said Glenn, who noted that he keeps the rifle unloaded during his honor guard vigils.

But he thinks when people hear the meaning behind his gesture, they’ll understand why he braves the chill and endures the strain on his aging knees. Honoring Sgt. Bondsteel, he said, is worth the pain.

“This is a national hero,” he said.

Contact Frontiersman editor Matt Tunseth at 352-2268 or email news@frontiersman.com

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misidentified the type of rifle Glenn was holding.