John R. Greene
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army

On 1 August 1944, First Lieutenant John R. Greene was serving with the 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division, First U.S. Army.

On that day, 1LT Greene’s unit was in action against German forces while pushing east towards Paris, France, through the Bocage [terrain of mixed woodland and pasture]. The fighting with the Germans was intense and the roads were littered with abandoned tanks and the bloated, stinking corpses of men and animals. 1LT Greene’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
World War II Victory Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

First Lieutenant (Infantry) John R. Greene (ASN: 0-390739), United States Army, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 1 August 1944. First Lieutenant Greene's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 28th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, First U.S. Army, General Orders No. 80 (1944)

Burial

First Lieutenant John R. Greene is buried at the Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial in Saint-James, Departement de la Manche, Basse-Normandie, France in Plot F, Row 9, Grave 9.

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=56351577