Master Sergeant Gleaton was a decorated veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of the 9th Field Artillery Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on 11 March 1951.

For his leadership and bravery, Master Sergeant Gleaton was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with "V" for valor and with an Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Ribbon, the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.