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Harold J. Greene

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Harold J. Greene
A photograph of a grinning man in a United States Army uniform. Behind the man are two separate flags that comprise the background, one being the national flag of the United States of America and the other being the personal standard of a United States Army major general.
Nickname "Harry"[1]
Born (1959-02-11)February 11, 1959[2]
Died August 5, 2014(2014-08-05) (aged 55)
Place of birth Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.[3]
Place of death Camp Qargha, Kabul, Afghanistan
Buried at Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance Flag of the United States United States of America
Service/branch Flag of the United States Army (1775) United States Army
Years of service 1980–2014[4][5]
Rank Army-USA-OF-07 Major general[6][7][8][9]
Commands held Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan[6]
Battles/wars War in Afghanistan†
Awards Legion of Merit ribbon Legion of Merit (4)
Purple Heart BAR Purple Heart Medal[N 1]
Meritorious Service ribbon Meritorious Service Medal (6)
Army Commendation Medal ribbon Army Commendation Medal (4)
Army Achievement Medal ribbon Army Achievement Medal
Spouse(s) Sue Myers (wife)[3]
Relations Harold F. Greene (father)[3]
Eva S. Greene (mother)[2][3]
Matthew Greene (son)[1]
Amelia Greene (daughter)[1]

Harold Joseph "Harry" Greene (February 11, 1959 – August 5, 2014) was a United States Army officer who was killed in the War in Afghanistan. During his time with the U.S. Army, he held various commands associated with engineering and logistical support for U.S. and coalition troops. At the time of his death, he was deputy commanding general of Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan.

Greene is the highest-ranking American service member killed by hostile action since Lieutenant General Timothy J. Maude was killed in the September 11 attacks, and the highest-ranking service member killed on foreign soil since Rear Admiral Rembrandt Cecil Robinson was killed during the Vietnam War in May 1972.[10][11] To date, Greene is also the highest ranking American officer to be killed in combat in the ongoing Global War on Terrorism.[12]

Early life and education[]

Greene was born in Boston, Massachusetts on February 11, 1959, to Eva May (Shediak) and Harold F. Greene.[2][3][13] He grew up in Schenectady, New York[14] graduated from Guilderland High School in 1977,[15] and from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) with a bachelor's degree in materials engineering in 1980.[16] Greene's father lived in Guilderland, New York at the time of his death. His mother died in February 2013.[3] Greene received a master's degree in industrial engineering from RPI and a master's in materials engineering from the University of Southern California (USC). In addition, he received a master's degree in mechanical engineering from USC,[1] and a Ph.D. (1992) in materials science, also from USC.[1][6]

Greene's military education included the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, and the United States Army Command and General Staff College. He completed the Defense Systems Management College's Advanced Program Management Course at the Defense Acquisition University, and also held a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the United States Army War College.[17][18]

Career[]

Gen. Harold J

Greene speaking at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in May 2010

Shyu Greene

Greene being promoted to major general in August 2012

140807-F-BO262-026 Army team transfers remains of Harold Greene

U.S. Army soldiers remove Greene's casket from a plane after it arrives in Delaware.

Greene received his commission as an Engineer Officer in 1980, after completing the Reserve Officer Training Program at RPI.[1]

As he worked his way through the ranks, Greene's assignments included: platoon leader, company executive officer, and battalion staff officer, Fort Polk; resident engineer in Athens; project engineer in Istanbul; brigade engineer and company commander, V Corps, West Germany; staff officer and materials engineer, Army Aviation and Troop Command, St. Louis; product manager, Aerial Common Sensor, Fort Monmouth; and assistant director, Combat Developments Directorate, U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center, Fort Leonard Wood.[12][19] At the time of the September 11 attacks in 2001, he was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood.[12]

Greene was promoted to brigadier general in late 2009, and served as deputy commanding general of United States Army Research, Development and Engineering Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground.[20] and the commanding general of Natick Soldier Systems Center.[21] While at Natick, Greene urged the military to incorporate smartphones, video games and virtual worlds into military training.[22] Later, he became Program Executive Officer for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology). Promoted to major general in 2012, he was Deputy for Acquisition and Systems Management in the same office.[6] In January 2014 he was named deputy commander of Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan.

Death[]

On August 5, 2014, Greene was killed after being shot in the back of the head by an Afghan soldier with an M16 rifle at Camp Qargha's Marshal Fahim National Defense University in Kabul, Afghanistan.[23][24] He had been making a routine visit to a training facility at the time.[25] Fourteen NATO and Afghan servicemembers were wounded in the attack,[26] including Brigadier General Michael Bartscher of the German Bundeswehr, two Afghan generals and another Afghan officer, eight Americans, and two British soldiers.[26][27]

On the morning of August 7, 2014, Greene's body arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.[28][29][30] Greene was buried in Arlington National Cemetery on August 14, 2014.[31]

Personal life[]

Greene was married to Dr.[32] Sue Myers, a retired colonel who worked as a professor at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.[3][1][30] At the time of his death, she lived in Falls Church, Virginia.[12] Greene had two children, a daughter, Amelia Greene, and a son, Matthew Greene, who is a U.S. Army lieutenant.[3][1][33]

Awards and decorations[]

Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit ribbon
Purple Heart BAR
Silver oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service ribbon
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal ribbon
Army Achievement Medal ribbon
Bronze star
National Defense Service Medal ribbon
Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service RibbonRibbon numeral 2
1st row
Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters[6]
Purple Heart Medal[N 1]
Meritorious Service Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster[6]
2nd row
Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters[6]
Army Achievement Medal[6]
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star[6]
3rd row
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon with award numeral

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Posthumously awarded.

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Pearce, Matt; Cloud, David S. (August 5, 2014). "Slain U.S. Maj. Gen. Harold Greene remembered for brilliance, humor". Los Angeles Times. Chicago, Illinois: Tribune Company. http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-fg-army-general-killed-20140805-story.html. Retrieved August 6, 2014. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Harold J Greene". United States Public Records, 1970–2009. Family Search. https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/2QDC-NLZ. Retrieved August 6, 2014. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Yusko, Dennis (August 6, 2014). "Father of major general killed in Afghanistan: 'Something is missing'". Albany Times-Union. Albany, New York: Hearst Newspapers. http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Cuomo-orders-flags-at-half-staff-for-general-from-5671641.php. Retrieved August 6, 2014. 
  4. ↑ "Army Maj. Gen. Harold Greene killed in Afghanistan". CNN. August 5, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140806160727/http://edition.cnn.com/2014/08/05/us/afghanistan-general-greene/index.html?hpt=hp_t1. Retrieved August 6, 2014. 
  5. ↑ "Insider attack victim identified as Maj. Gen. Harold Greene". Army Times. August 5, 2014. http://www.armytimes.com/article/20140805/NEWS/308050075/Insider-attack-victim-identified-Maj-Gen-Harold-Greene. Retrieved 2014-08-06. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 "Major General Harold J. Greene — Deputy for Acquisitions and Systems Management Headquarters, Department of the Army" (PDF). Washington, D.C.. https://web.archive.org/web/20140805214944/http://usarmy.vo.llnwd.net/e2/c/downloads/271929.pdf. Retrieved 2014-08-06. 
  7. ↑ "392F – C4ISR Breakfast – Featuring MG Harold J. Greene, USA". Web.archive.org. https://web.archive.org/web/20140805215418/http://www.ndia.org/meetings/392F/Pages/default.aspx. Retrieved 2014-08-05. 
  8. ↑ "Condolence Statement from the Army Chief of Staff General Ray Odierno for the Loss of Maj. Gen. Harold J. Greene". https://web.archive.org/web/20140806000330/http://www.defense.gov/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=16867. 
  9. ↑ "335". Title 10, Part 2, Section 3281. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/3281. Retrieved August 12, 2014. "(1) Major general" 
  10. ↑ Rosenberg, Matthew; Kakaraug, Haris (5 August 2014). "U.S. General Is Killed in Attack at Afghan Base, Officials Say". http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/06/world/asia/afghanistan-attack.html. Retrieved 5 August 2014. 
  11. ↑ "Maj. Gen. Harold Greene Is Highest Ranking Soldier Killed Since Vietnam". ABC News. August 5, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140806160449/http://abcnews.go.com/International/maj-gen-harold-greene-highest-ranking-soldier-killed/story?id=24856054. Retrieved August 6, 2014. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 "Major General Harold Greene killed in Afghanistan attack; highest ranking officer killed in combat since 1970". 2014-08-05. http://www.wjla.com/articles/2014/08/one-american-killed-about-a-dozen-injured-as-suspected-afghan-soldier-opens-fire-at-kabul-military-b.html. Retrieved 2014-08-08. 
  13. ↑ "In Memory of Eva S. Greene 1928–2013". http://www.newcomeralbany.com/obituary.aspx?obitid=65334. Retrieved 2014-08-07. 
  14. ↑ Bob Fredericks. "Afghan soldier who killed US general hid in bathroom with NATO gun". New York Post. http://nypost.com/2014/08/06/insider-who-killed-general-hid-in-bathroom-used-nato-gun/. 
  15. ↑ "With deepest condolences on the loss of Maj. Gen. Harold Greene". http://www.guilderlandschools.org/district/newsarchive/1415/080614MajGenGreene.cfm. Retrieved 2014-08-06. 
  16. ↑ Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D., President, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Statement on the Death of Major General Harold J. Greene '80, August 5, 2014
  17. ↑ United States Army (August 2014). "Army general killed in Afghanistan". Army.mil. https://web.archive.org/web/20140806142651/http://www.army.mil/article/131262/Army_general_killed_in_Afghanistan/. Retrieved August 6, 2014. 
  18. ↑ Garamone, Jim (August 6, 2014). "Officials Identify Army Major General Killed in Afghanistan". U.S. Department of Defense. http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=122858. Retrieved August 14, 2014. 
  19. ↑ "U.S. Army Biography, Harold J. Greene". http://usarmy.vo.llnwd.net/e2/c/downloads/271929.pdf. Retrieved August 14, 2014. 
  20. ↑ "Army's research, development command moves to historic facilities | Article | The United States Army". Army.mil. https://web.archive.org/web/20140806160336/http://www.army.mil/article/42933/Army_s_research__development_command_moves_to_historic_facilities/. Retrieved 2014-08-05. 
  21. ↑ "Natick Soldier Systems Center Master Plan Overview" (PDF). https://web.archive.org/web/20140806160841/http://www.natick.army.mil/garrison/Master_Plan_Overview.pdf. Retrieved August 6, 2014. 
  22. ↑ Martin, Andrew; Lin, Thomas (May 1, 2011). "Military Tests Apps and Other Digital Training Tools: Keyboards First. Then Grenades". New York Times. New York City, New York: The New York Times Company. https://web.archive.org/web/20140806163604/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/02/technology/02wargames.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&. Retrieved August 6, 2014. 
  23. ↑ "Two star general was shot in the back of the head after Afghan soldier hid in the bathroom preparing for sneak attack". http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2718439/Two-star-general-shot-head-Afghan-soldier-hid-bathroom-preparing-sneak-attack.html. 
  24. ↑ "American army officer killed, many wounded in Afghan insider attack". Afghanistan Sun. http://www.afghanistansun.com/index.php/sid/224460361. Retrieved 7 August 2014. 
  25. ↑ "U.S. general killed in Afghanistan was key figure in training effort". Washington Post. 5 August 2014. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-general-killed-in-afghanistan-was-key-figure-in-training-effort/2014/08/05/d25cc80a-1cc4-11e4-ae54-0cfe1f974f8a_story.html. Retrieved 5 August 2014. 
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Afghan insider's killing of U.S. general marks grim renewal of tactic, Los Angeles Times
  27. ↑ Afghan soldier who killed U.S. general is identified, Los Angeles Times
  28. ↑ "Body of Major General Harold Greene arrives in Dover". Boston Globe. August 7, 2014. http://www.bostonglobe.com/2014/08/07/body-maj-gen-harold-greene-arrived-dover-afb/FUzBDrcgSAbWM4rfkdqjPI/story.html. Retrieved August 7, 2014. 
  29. ↑ Carroll, Chris (August 7, 2014). "Body of US general killed in Afghan insider attack arrives at Dover AFB". Stars and Stripes. http://www.stripes.com/news/us/body-of-us-general-killed-in-afghan-insider-attack-arrives-at-dover-afb-1.297136#. Retrieved August 7, 2014. 
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Air Force Mortuary Affairs (August 7, 2014). "Army Maj. Gen. Harold J. Greene honored in dignified transfer Aug. 7". United States Air Force. United States Department of the Air Force. http://www.mortuary.af.mil/pressreleases/pressreleasearchive/story.asp?id=123420524. Retrieved August 7, 2014. 
  31. ↑ Gruber, Jack (August 14, 2014). "Service Honors Gen. Harold Greene". USA Today. Tysons Corner, Virginia. http://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/news/nation/2014/08/14/service-honors-gen-harold-greene/14078483/. Retrieved August 14, 2014. 
  32. ↑ Army memorial ceremony honors Maj. Gen. Greene (Aug. 14, 2014)
  33. ↑ Harold J. Greene laid to rest at Arlington (8-14-2014) - photo

External links[]

Harold J. Greene at Find a Grave

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