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Francis Greenlief

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Francis S. Greenlief
Major General Greenlief as National Guard bureau chief
Born(1921-07-27)July 27, 1921
Hastings, Nebraska
DiedDecember 19, 1999(1999-12-19) (aged 78)
Falls Church, Virginia
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1940–1974
RankMajor General
UnitNebraska National Guard
National Guard Bureau
CommandsArmy National Guard
National Guard Bureau
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsDistinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
Other workExecutive vice president, National Guard Association of the United States

Major General Francis S. Greenlief (July 27, 1921 – December 19, 1999) was a major general in the United States Army. He served as the 18th Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

Early life

Francis Stevens Greenlief was born in Hastings, Nebraska on July 17, 1921.[1] He graduated from Hastings High School and played football as a Lineman for the University of Nebraska, but was unable to compete in the 1941 Rose Bowl when his Nebraska National Guard unit was mobilized for World War II.[1]

World War II

Greenlief graduated from Officer Candidate School and served as a platoon leader and company commander with the 134th Infantry Regiment,[1] 35th Infantry Division.[2] He participated in the Battle of Normandy, liberation of Saint-Lô, and the Battle of the Bulge.[3] During the war, Greenlief earned a Silver Star, a Bronze Star Medal, four Purple Hearts, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four battle stars, and the Croix de Guerre of France.[1]

Post World War II

In 1947 Greenlief returned to the Nebraska National Guard as commander of Company G, 134th Infantry Regiment. Greenlief continued to advance through command and staff assignments in Nebraska, including Chief of Staff of the 34th Infantry Division and acting assistant adjutant general of Nebraska.[4] He graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in 1955.[5]

National Guard Bureau

Greenlief was a colonel when he began his career at the National Guard Bureau in 1960 as executive officer of the Army Division. He served as chief of the Army Division from 1962 to 1963 as a brigadier general, and was succeeded by Charles L. Southward. In 1963 he became deputy director of the National Guard Bureau. In 1970 the position of director of the Army National Guard was created as a major general's position, and Greenlief was selected, succeeding Leonard C. Ward, who had been serving as chief of the Army Division. The position of deputy director was also created as a brigadier general's assignment, and Ward was selected[6][7]

In 1969 Greenlief qualified in the Aviation branch and received the Army Aviator Badge.[8]

He served as chief of the National Guard Bureau from 1971 to 1974. During his time as chief, Greenlief pushed for a more active role for the National Guard within the United States Army, better benefits and equipment for National Guard soldiers, and for increased minority recruitment. The number of African-American guardsmen more than tripled during his tenure.[1]

Awards and decorations

In addition to his World War II combat awards, Greenlief was a recipient of the Army Distinguished Service Medal and Air Force Distinguished Service Medal.[9]

In 1999 the Governor of Nebraska announced that Greenlief had received a state promotion to lieutenant general to acknowledge his long service and superior performance of duty.[10]

Post military career

From 1974 to 1984, Greenlief served as executive vice president of the National Guard Association of the United States.[11] He later worked as a consultant for several defense contracting firms, including United Defense of York, Pennsylvania.[10]

Death and burial

In retirement Greenlief resided in Oakton, Virginia. He died from cancer at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia on December 19, 1999.[12] Greenlief is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 30, Grave 950-B.[13]

Legacy

The Nebraska National Guard's facility in Hastings is named the Francis S. Greenlief Training Site.[14]

The Army National Guard presents the annual Francis S. Greenlief Award for Excellence in Aviation.[15]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Jensen, 89
  2. ^ Bullock, Keith. "134th Infantry Regiment". Retrieved 12 Sep 2010.
  3. ^ Jensen, 88
  4. ^ United States Senate Appropriations Committee, Hearing record, Department of Defense Apprioriations for 1975, biographical sketch, Francis S. Greenlief, 1974, page 448
  5. ^ U.S. House. Committee on Appropriations, Hearing record, Department of Defense appropriations for 1974, biographical sketch, Francis S. Greenlief, 1973, page 552
  6. ^ Billy R. Wood, Lords of Darkness: A History of the 45th Aviation Battalion (Special Operations) and Oklahoma Army National Guard Aviation, 2011, page 47
  7. ^ National Guard Association of the United States, The National Guardsman, Jelinek Named ARNG Director, Volumes 26-27, 1972, page 40
  8. ^ United States Senate Armed Services Committee, Hearing record, Nominations of Richard S. Wilbur, Charles L. Ill and Major General Francis S. Greenlief, biographical sketch of Francis S. Greenlief, 1971, page 12
  9. ^ United States House of Representatives Committee on Armed Services, Hearing record, Operation and Maintenance, Title III, biographical sketch, Francis S. Greenlief, 1982, page 364
  10. ^ a b Arlington Cemetery.net, entry for Francis S. Greenlief, accessed April 19, 2013
  11. ^ Jensen, 90
  12. ^ Washington Post, Francis Greenlief Dies; National Guard Official, December 23, 1999
  13. ^ Arlington National Cemetery, Burial entry, Francis S. Greenlief, accessed April 19, 2013
  14. ^ U.S. Department of Defense, Materials of Evolving Regulatory Interest Team, Description, Greenlief Training Site, 2011
  15. ^ Army National Guard, National Guard Regulation 672-1, Trophies and Awards Program for the Army National Guard, January 27, 2012, page 27

Additional resources

Jensen, Ron (August 2010). "Straight Forward". National Guard: 88–90. Retrieved 12 Sep 2010.

Military offices
Preceded by Chief of the National Guard Bureau
1971-1974 		Succeeded by
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