Thomas A. Greene
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army

On 18 September 1944, Staff Sergeant Thomas A. Greene was serving as a Medical Aidman with the 15th Armored Infantry Battalion, 5th Armored Division, First U.S. Army.

On that day, SSG Greene’s unit was in action against German forces during the Rhineland Campaign, after penetrating the Siegfried Line at Wallendorf, Germany. A squad of armored infantrymen, accompanied by a tank, was on a mission to push through German positions to regain contact with the battalion Command Post. SSG Greene, although wounded the previous day, went with his comrades on the dangerous assignment. Near the enemy lines, the tank received a direct hit and while its crew was trying to dismount, 2 men were seriously wounded. Ignoring the heavy German artillery, mortar and small arms fire placed on the disabled tank, SSG Greene advanced to aid the wounded men. When the squad was ordered to withdraw, SSG Greene ignored the pleas of his comrades to return to the rear and chose to remain with the wounded. As increased German mortar fire began to fall in the area, SSG Greene calmly continued rendering medical treatment. When last seen, SSG Greene was attempting to drag his wounded men to the safety of a nearby ditch. SSG Greene’s selfless, courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day, at the cost of his own life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
Purple Heart with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Combat Medical Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Thomas A. Greene (38103835), Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as a Medical Aidman with the 15th Armored Infantry Battalion, 5th Armored Division, in action against enemy forces on 18 September 1944, in Germany. A squad of armored infantrymen accompanied by a tank was assigned the mission of pushing through enemy positions to regain contact with the battalion Command Post. Staff Sergeant Greene, though wounded the previous day, voluntarily accompanied his comrades on the dangerous assignment. Near the enemy lines, the tank received a direct hit. While its crew members were attempting to dismount, two men were seriously wounded. Disregarding heavy artillery, mortar and small arms fire placed by the enemy upon the disabled tank, Staff Sergeant Greene advanced unhesitatingly to aid the wounded men. He ignored the pleas of his comrades to return to the rear when the squad was ordered to withdraw and chose to remain with the men. When intense enemy mortar fire began to fall in the area, Staff Sergeant Greene with calm efficiency and at the risk of his own life, continued to render medical treatment. He was last seen attempting to drag his wounded comrades to the safety of a nearby ditch. By his display of fearless courage, tenacity of purpose and unflinching devotion to duty, Staff Sergeant Greene exemplified the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflected great credit upon himself, the 5th Armored Division, and the United States Army.

Headquarters, First U.S. Army, General Orders No. 82 (1944)

Memorialization

The remains of Staff Sergeant Thomas A. Greene have never been recovered. He is memorialized with his name inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial in Hamm, Canton de Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Luxembourg.

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