Glen Smith was born in Burdick, KS to William and Hulda Smith. He attended the Diamond Valley High School at Burdick and was employed at the N.E. Shank Standard Oil Agent in Herington when he was drafted into the service. Smith was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky for awhile before leaving for overseas duty July 15, 1944. Smith was announced as "Missing In Action" on December 19, 1944. His family learned Smith was taken prisoner and in April the family received a form card, written by Glen, stating he was a prisoner at Stalag-12 camp. Two months after his death, the family received word, Smith had died February 1, 1945. Smith was well liked and popular around the Burdick and Herington communities. He had two brothers serving in World War II as well as a brother-in-law.