Denny Glick, the popular former manager for 25 years of the Perry Hy-Vee, was surprised Sunday evening when the Perry Piecemakers presented him with a Quilt of Valor in recognition of his service to the U.S. military in Vietnam.
Perry Piecemakers member Barb Hansen presented the quilt in ceremonies at the Hotel Pattee, and she outlined Glick’s service, which began in the U.S. Army in March 1968, with basic training at Ft. Bliss, Texas, followed by advanced training in administration and jungle warfare.
Glick was deployed to Vietnam with duties in radio communications in which he carried a radio with him for officer communications. He was on the advisory team at Long Xuyen, Vietnam, along the Hau River.
After his overseas tour, he was stationed at the Redstone Arsenal in Alabama. This base was in charge of designing weapon systems, and Glick was in the office of doctrine and new
materials.
In January 1971 Glick was honorably discharged at the rank of E5. He received numerous recognitions, including the Army Accommodation Medal, National Defense Service Medal and a Vietnamese Medal Service Medal of Honor 2″d Class.
Following military service, Glick attended Burlington Junior College and landed a job as a guard at the Iowa ammunition plant in Burlington with the help of a colonel he had worked with in the service.
Glick had worked at Hy-Vee during high school and also while taking classes at the University Iowa. Through his years with the company, he worked his way up to management at the Rock Rapids store and later in Perry, where he is very fondly remembered for his involvement in community activities.
Glick was plainly surprised by the Quilt of Valor award. He said his time in Perry was “the best days of my life,” although health issues have lately kept him and his wife Sandy from visiting Perry.
Hansen thanked Kathy Fox and others for nominating Glick. “On behalf of the Quilts of Valor Foundation and the Perry Piecemakers, Denny, welcome home,” Hansen said. “Thank you for allowing us to recognize you with this award of a quilt.”
