Edward Greer (born March 8, 1924) is a retired United States Army major general.
Edward Greer | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 8, 1924 Gary, West Virginia |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1943–1945 1948–1976 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Commands held | 108th Artillery Group |
| Battles/wars | World War II Korean War Vietnam War |
| Awards | Silver Star Legion of Merit(2) Bronze Star(2) |
Early life and enlisted service edit
Greer was born and grew up in Gary, West Virginia.[1] He enrolled West Virginia State University, which had a mandatory ROTC requirement, with the intent of becoming a dentist before enlisting in the Army in 1943 after his freshman year. He served in the 777th Field Battalion and was discharged as a Master Sergeant.[2] Greer returned to West Virginia State after the war and was commissioned a second lieutenant in field artillery after graduating in 1948.[3]
Career as a commissioned officer edit
Greer was initially stationed at Fort Riley after commissioning.[4] He served as a forward observer with 159th Field Artillery Battalion attached to the 25th Infantry Division in the Korean War and was awarded the Silver Star and the Bronze Star for valor.[5] Greer was promoted to captain while in Korea and was posted to Germany after his deployment to Korea followed by an assignment to the Pentagon with the Army General Staff, during which time attended graduate school at George Washington University.[2]
Greer, then a colonel, deployed to Vietnam in 1970 as the deputy commander of XXIV Corps Artillery before taking command of the 108th Artillery Group. During his deployment he was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Air Medal and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.[2] In 1972, Greer was promoted to the rank of brigadier general.[6][7] After serving as the deputy commanding general of Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, he was assigned to be the deputy commanding general at the U.S. Army Military Personnel Center in Washington, D.C. in 1972 and promoted to major general later that year. Greer retired from the Army in 1976.[4]
Post-Military life edit
Greer moved to El Paso, Texas after retirement from the Army and became a realtor.[2][4] On March 8, 2024, he became a centenarian.[8]
References edit
- ^ "Black Armed Forces Brass". The Crisis. 80 (10): 343–344. December 1973. ISSN 0011-1422. OCLC 1565450.
- ^ a b c d Knight, Bill (November 10, 2018). "Veterans Day: A private in World War II, Greer became 1 of Army's 1st black generals". El Paso Times.
- ^ "ROCK OF THE YEAR FOR 1981: Major General EDWARD GREER". RocksInc.org.
- ^ a b c "Edward Greer".
- ^ "West Virginia's first black general looks back on a storied career". Charleston Gazette-Mail. February 4, 2017.
- ^ Bickley, Ancella. "General Edward Greer: West Virginia's First Black General". WVCulture.org.
- ^ "Army Names Five Blacks Among 62 Colonels for Promotion to General". The New York Times. June 8, 1972.
- ^ Greaves, Jason (March 8, 2024). "Retired major general, veteran of three wars, celebrates 100th birthday". www.army.mil. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
External links edit
- "Edward Greer Collection". The Library of Congress. 2024-03-02. AFC/2001/001/93402. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
- "Edward Greer oral history interview". National Museum of the Pacific War Digital Archive. 2008-04-23. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- "Retired major general, veteran of three wars, celebrates 100th birthday". DVIDS. U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 9 March 2024.