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Charles Francis Greer
was born at Walter Reed General Hospital in Washington, DC, on 17 Jan
1923, the second of the five children of then 1LT (later Brigadier General)
Frank Upton and May Mann Greer. Charlie grew up with fond memories of
“Army brat” life at Ft. Davis, Canal Zone; Ft. Leavenworth, KS; Ft.
Washington, MD; and Ft. Benning, GA. He graduated from high school in
South Kingston, RI, in 1939 while his father was Professor of Military
Science and Tactics at then Rhode Island State College. Since he was
only 16 at the time, his parents sent him to Rhode Island State College
to “grow up a little” before trying for West Point. After two years
of college, he attended Millard’s West Point Prep School to prepare
for the West Point entrance exams and passed them in March of 1942.
Upon receiving an appointment from Senator Gerry of Rhode Island, he
reported to West Point in July of 1942 to join the Class of 1945.
Charlie described his
time at West Point as follows. “I was an average cadet, both academically
and athletically. My academic highlight was when I stood number two
in my class in Plebe English, thanks to the exHarvard instructor who
taught me English grammar at Millard’s Prep School. My athletic career
terminated on the football practice field in the fall of 1943 when I
suffered a severely fractured wrist. The injury was probably a blessing
in disguise, as football and basketball practices at West Point were
all work and no fun.” Charlie always said that the most significant
character trait that he learned at West Point was “to always reason
to a logical conclusion.” Charlie was commissioned a second lieutenant
in the Infantry (his branch of choice) upon graduation on 5 Jun 1945.
He married his “one and only,” Betty French, on the same day in New
York City. Most of Charlies military career was spent in Airborne assignments.
His first assignment after graduation was with the 508th Parachute
Infantry Regiment in Frankfurt, Germany, part of the 82d Airborne Division.
After a year on occupation duty, he returned with the 508th to Ft. Bragg,
NC, to complete his first of three tours with the 82d. His only non-Airborne
troop assignment was with the 5th Regimental Combat Team in Korea during
the latter stages of the Korean War, where he served as a rifle company
commander and battalion S-3 and earned a Bronze Star to accompany his
Combat Infantryman Badge.
Between his three 82d
Airborne Division assignments, he earned a master’s degree in electrical
engineering at Georgia Tech; taught basic electronics at both the Armor
School at Ft. Knox, KY, and the Air Defense School at Ft. Bliss, TX;
and served ROTC duty at Florida State College. During 1960—63, he was
G-3 of U.S. Army, Alaska, and during 1963—66 he served a demanding tour
in the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations in the Pentagon,
where he was instrumental in developing the Readiness Report used throughout
the Army for years. Following that tour, he attended the Army War College,
graduating in 1967.
Charlie was always happiest
in his airborne assignments. His second tour in the 82d Airborne Division
was from 1957 to 1960. He was assigned to the XVIII Airborne Corps in
1967—68, and his last assignment with the 82d Airborne was in 1968-69.
Then, he commanded the 4th Brigade, which was formed when one brigade
of the 82d Division was deployed to South Viet Nam. His final airborne
assignment was as senior advisor to the airborne division of the Army
of the Republic of Viet Nam in 1970 during the Viet Nam War. Charlie
had well over 200 parachute jumps during his career.
Charlie’s last
assignment was commander of the 4th Recruiting District at Ft. Sam
Houston, TX, from 1971 to 1974. On 1 Feb 1974, he retired at Ft. Sam.
Among his awards and decorations were three awards of the Legion of
Merit, two Bronze Stars, five Air Medals, and the Army Commendation
Medal, along with his Combat Infantryman Badge.
In retirement, Charlie
and Betty moved to Greenville, SC, and concentrated on enjoying their
family and worldwide travel. Their travels included one trip abroad
each year, and they visited every one of our 50 states. They built a
vacation house in the North Carolina mountains, where they spent many
days entertaining family and friends. Charlie and Betty were blessed
with four children, three boys and a girl, and they were very proud
of each of them. One child is a medical doctor, and another one heads
a large CPA firm. His daughter (whose husband is Class of ’72) teaches
English as a second language, and the fourth child is a career Army
officer (ROTC Regular Army commission) who retired as a colonel. Charlie
and Betty have nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild (born just
prior to Charlie’s death). They were Charlie’s pride and joy during
retirement and continue to be so for Betty.
Charlie was instrumental
in instituting an annual extended Greer family gathering, “Beach Week”
in the Myrtle Beach, SC area, that included Charlie’s siblings and their
families. Family was always vitally important to Charlie, who developed
very special relationships with each of his grandchildren. He often
stated that his most difficult and rewarding assignment during retirement
was as patriarch of the “Greer Clan.” As the oldest son, he continuously
maintained close ties with all of his siblings and their families. Throughout
his life, he lived an extended West Point motto: Duty, Honor, Country,
and Family!
On 15 Nov 2005, Charlie died of cancer in his home. He was
buried in the post cemetery at West Point. His beloved Betty, his children,
and grandchildren all have nothing but the most fond memories of their everlovable G-Pop.
— His brother Tug
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