Earl D. Greer

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Earl D. Greer (0-5241025), First Lieutenant (Armor), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 34th Armor, 25th Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Greer distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions during the period 26 to 29 February 1968 as a platoon leader of a task force on a mission near Tan Hoa. On 26 February, Lieutenant Greer’s personnel carrier was struck during an enemy attack by an anti-tank rocket and he was painfully wounded. He refused medical evacuation, quickly assessed the situation and directed fire into the insurgents’ positions. When one of his platoon’s vehicle commanders was severely wounded by the hostile fire, he dismounted his vehicle and, disregarding his safety, ran through a withering hail of enemy bullets to render aid to the man and move him to a place of safety. The following morning, Lieutenant Greer spearheaded the task force’s attack by destroying several bunker complexes. During the continuous fighting that followed near the village of Ap Ban Tram, one of his personnel carriers was struck by a rocket which seriously wounded the vehicle’s driver. Lieutenant Greer immediately returned the fire, killing the enemy gunner. While under intense fire from several other concealed positions, he dismounted his vehicle and attached a tow cable to the disabled armored personnel carrier to extract it from the battle area. After the vehicle had been removed, he led his platoon in an assault on the enemy, killing three and capturing four North Vietnamese soldiers. Later, infantry elements east of the village were pinned down by intense hostile automatic weapons fire. He maneuvered his vehicle into position and directed counterfire on the entrenched insurgents positions which allowed the beleaguered units to disengage the enemy. The movement exposed his armored personnel carrier to the insurgents and it was struck by anti-tank fire which resulted in the entire crew being wounded. With his carrier in flames and painfully wounded himself, Lieutenant Greer personally extracted the other crew members before allowing himself to be given medical treatment. Throughout the entire four days of fighting, his personal acts of courage were a constant source of inspiration to his troops. First Lieutenant Greer’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Headquarters, US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 3884 (August 9, 1968)