World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Richard L. Greiner
Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Cleveland, Ohio
Honored By
An Indebted American
PARTICIPATED IN A ROTC PROGRAM AND WAS COMMISSIONED A LIEUTENANT UPON GRADUATION IN JUNE 1942. SERVED AT SEA ABOARD DESTROYERS: USS MAYO, USS PLUNKETT, AND USS SHEA. PERFORMED CONVOY DUTY IN THE ATLANTIC. SAW ACTION AT SALERNO AND ANZIO, ITALY. SERVED IN BOTH THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC THEATRES OF OPERATION. IN MAY 1945, AT THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA, A KAMIKAZE STRUCK THE DESTROYER WHILE HE STOOD ON THE SHIP'S BRIDGE. HE WAS INJURED WHILE OTHERS AROUND HIM WERE KILLED. RECIPIENT OF THE PURPLE HEART. AFTER RECOVERING FROM INJURIES, RETURNED TO DUTY AND WAS ON BOARD A DESTROYER IN THE PANAMA CANAL HEADED BACK TO FIGHT IN JAPAN IN AUGUST 1945 WHEN THE ATOMIC BOMBS FELL AND THE WAR ENDED. WAS A COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER BY THE END OF THE WAR.