World War II Honoree

Kenneth Earl Greiner

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Cleveland, Pawnee County, Oklahoma

Honored By

OAMC, ROTC Class of 1943

SERVED IN THE ARMY RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS (ROTC) AT OKLAHOMA A&M COLLEGE AT STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA FROM SEPTEMBER 1940 TO APRIL 5, 1943. SIMULTANEOUSLY SERVED AS A PRIVATE IN THE ENLISTED RESERVE CORPS WITH THE 1875TH SERVICE UNIT FROM JULY 1942 TO APRIL 5, 1943. INDUCTED AND CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY ON APRIL 6, 1943. REPORTED TO THE RECEPTION CENTER, FORT SILL, AT LAWTON, OKLAHOMA ON APRIL 12, 1943. ASSIGNED TO OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL AT FORT BENNING, AT COLUMBUS, GEORGIA DURING THE PERIOD JUNE 24 TO SEPTEMBER 18, 1943. HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON SEPTEMBER 17, 1943 WITH THE RANK OF CORPORAL TO ACCEPT AN APPOINTMENT AS AN OFFICER. GRADUATED AND COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT IN THE INFANTRY ON SEPTEMBER 18, 1943. TRAINED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT CAMP FANNIN AT TYLER, TEXAS. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER AS A SECOND LIEUTENANT WITH THE 175TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 29TH INFANTRY 'BLUE AND GRAY' DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE D-DAY INVASION OF NORMANDY, FRANCE ON JUNE 6, 1944, ASSAULTING ACROSS OMAHA BEACH. HIS UNIT TOOK THE TOWN OF ISIGNY, FRANCE, ITS D-DAY OBJECTIVE, ON JUNE 8, 1944 AND BEGAN OPERATIONS TOWARD SAINT LO ON JUNE 16, 1944, BATTLING UP HILLS 90 AND 97. SECOND LIEUTENANT GREINER WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON JUNE 18, 1944 DURING THE NORMANDY CAMPAIGN IN FRANCE. POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE SERVICE STAR AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.