William A. Greer, Jr.
Service #: 357-33-13
Rank: Pharmacist's Mate Second Class, U.S. Navy
Unit: United States Naval Reserve
Entered Service From: Louisiana
Date of Death: 04 October 1944, Peleliu, Palau
Buried: Manila American Cemetery – Plot D, Row 16, Grave 83
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He was born in Logansport. His family moved to Oil City when a small boy.
1930 United States Federal Census (07 May 1930): Oil City (Ward 2), Caddo Parish, Louisiana (sheet 25A, family 121, 117 Shreveport - Texarkana Road) – W. A. Greer, Jr. (7 Louisiana).
1940 United States Federal Census (25 April 1940): Oil City (Ward 2), Caddo Parish, Louisiana (sheet 8B, household 195) – William A. Greer, Jr. (16 Louisiana). His family had lived in the same place in 1935.
He graduated from Oil City High School and attended Centenary College and Kilgore Junior College.
William Arthur Greer Jr (19, 30 April 1923, Logansport, Louisiana), a resident of Oil City, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, signed up for his World War II Draft Registration Card (Serial No. N199, Order No. 11,608) on 30 June 1942 in Vivian, Caddo Parish, Louisiana. He was unemployed. William listed his father, W. A. Greer, as the person who would always know his address. He was described as 5' 10" in height, 174 lbs., with a light complexion, brown hair and blue eyes.
William A. Greer Jr enlisted in the U.S. Navy on 15 December 1942 in Louisiana. He was assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps as a medical corpsman.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 28 October 1943 thru at least 31 January 1944
Company "B", Field Medical School Battalion, TC, Camp Elliott, San Diego, California
Pharmacist Mate Third Class William A. Greer (S/N 357-33-13). He joined Company "B" on 28 October 1943 from USNH, San Diego, California. He was a student.
William A. Greer was sent to the South Pacific in April 1944.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – April 1944
52nd Replacement Battalion, At Sea
Pharmacist Mate Second Class William A. Greer (S/N 357-33-13).
PH2c William A. Greer was attached to Headquarters Company, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division, U.S. Marine Corps.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – July 1944 thru 04 October 1944
Headquarters Company, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division, FMF; Class V (6).
Pharmacist Mate Second Class William A. Greer (S/N 357-33-13), U.S. Naval Reserve, Class V (6). 04 October 1944; KIA GSW, back, in action against enemy forces (Japanese) at Peleliu, Palau Islands; 05 October, remains interred in U.S. Arm Forces Cemetery #1, Peleliu, Island – Section No. 4, Grave No. 131.
While serving as a medical corpsman, PhM2c Greer was shot in the back by a Japanese sniper on Peleliu of the Palau Islands, 04 October 1944. He was killed in action.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Battle of Peleliu (15 September 15 – 27 November 1944)
The following describes the conditions on Peleliu when PhM2C Greer was killed:
"The US Marines departed on LST landing craft from Pavuvu, just north of Guadalcanal, for Peleliu in the morning of 4 Sep 1944. The journey was 2,100 miles in distance across the Pacific, and it was made uneventfully.
D-Day on Peleliu was set for 15 September 1944...Three days of naval gunfire preceded the Marines' landing, but it proved inadequate against the well dug-in Japanese...The 7th Marines on the right were to assault Orange Beach 3 and move to take the southern tip of the island....When they arrived at Peleliu, they found the landing beaches a "frightful spectacle. Huge geysers of water rose around the amtracs ahead of us as they approached the reef. The beach was now marked along its length by a continuous sheet of flame backed by a thick wall of smoke." When the landers made it to the beach, they found themselves targets to overwhelming machine gun and rifle fire. Every so often, artillery shells flew in from behind the lines, sending fragments everywhere and occasionally scoring hits on American landing vehicles. Through this most hostile scenery, the Americans secured a beachhead to advance their operations.
20 September 1944
PhM2c William A. GREER, Jr., Hospital Corps, USNR, 1st Marine Division, Palau.
"The weather was hot and humid; even with the frequent rain...The combat at Peleliu was most brutal, with both sides fighting in the most violent manner.
"On 3 Oct, the Marines attacked the Five Sisters, a group of coral hills with five tall peaks. The Marines advanced steadily, but the Japanese sniper fire was so intense that casualty rate was extremely high for the Americans. Very soon, the Japanese realized that it was advantageous to shoot the stretcher bearers, for that it would force the Americans to set aside at least two men as stretcher bearers to bring the downed man back. Again, the Japanese practiced extremely good fire discipline, firing only when they could inflict maximum casualties. "When they shot, someone usually got hit." Source: https://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=77
From BLOODY BEACHES: The Marines at Peleliu.
"On 3 October, reinforced by the attached 3/5 (back from Ngesebus), the 7th Regiment organized a four-battalion attack. The plan called for 1/7 and 3/7 to attack from the north, against Boyd Ridge and the smaller ridges to its west, while 2/7 would attack Pope (Walt) Ridge from the south. The attached 3/5 was ordered to make a diversionary attack from the south into the Horseshoe canyon and its guardian Five Sisters on its west. This regimental attack against the Pocket committed four infantry "battalions," all now closer to company than battalion strength, against the heights near the southern end of the Pocket (Five Sisters), and the ridges at the eastern shoulder of the Pocket (Pope and Boyd Ridges). After heavy casualties, the attack succeeded, but the Five Sisters (four of which 3/5 scaled) were untenable, and had to be abandoned after their seizure.
"The next day, 4 October, the 7th Marines with 3/5 still attached made one more general attack--in the south, again to seize, then give up, positions on the Five Sisters; in the north, to try to advance and consolidate the positions there earlier seized." Source: BLOODY BEACHES: The Marines at Peleliu by Brigadier General Gordon D. Gayle USMC (Ret), page 36 (https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-C-Peleliu/index.html).
By October 15, the 7th Marines had suffered 46% casualties..."When the Battle of Peleliu was over, the Americans suffered over 10,000 casualties, with 2,336 of them killed... The Japanese lost an estimated 10,695 men on the island, with only 302 survived as prisoners.
In the US, the Battle for Peleliu was a controversial battle because of the island's negligible strategic value and the high casualty rate, which exceeded that of all other amphibious operations during the Pacific War. The National Museum of the Marine Corps called it "the bitterest battle of the war for the Marines".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
W. A Greer, Jr. Killed in Action
Mr. and Mrs. W. A Greer, Sr. were notified on Oct. 20th of the death of their son, William Arthur Greer, Jr. who was killed in action on October 4th. The telegram was as follows:
"The Navy Department deeply regrets to inform you that your son William Arthur Greer, Jr., Pharmacists Mate Second Class U.S.N.R. was killed in action on 4 Oct. 1944 while in the service of his country. The Department extends to you its sincerest sympathy in your great loss. On account of existing conditions the body, if recovered, cannot be returned at present. If further details are received you will be informed. To prevent possible aid to our enemies please do not divulge the name of his ship or station.
Vice Admiral Randall Jacobs
The Chief of Naval Personnel"
W. A. was 21 years old. He was born in Logansport and moved to Oil City when a small boy. He graduated from Oil City High School and attended Centenary College and Kilgore Junior College. He joined the Navy Dec. 14, 1942.
Besides his parents, who recently moved back to Logansport, he is survived by one brother, Travis Greer of Cotton Valley, La. Source: The Interstate Progress (Logansport, Louisiana), Friday, 03 November 1944, page 1.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After the war his remains were brought to 7747 USAF Cemetery, Manila #2, Philippine Islands – Block 4, Row 19, Grave 2364 (D-D 6215). The deceased in Manila #2 (over 11,000 American soldiers) rested there until their removal to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum in the summer of 1948. From there, according to the wishes of his next of kin (father, Mr. William A. Greer Sr.), Pharmacist's Mate Second Class William Arthur Greer, Jr., was buried in his final resting place in the 7701 Ft. McKinley Cemetery (now known as the Manila American Cemetery) – Plot D, Row 16, Grave 83
Service #: 357-33-13
Rank: Pharmacist's Mate Second Class, U.S. Navy
Unit: United States Naval Reserve
Entered Service From: Louisiana
Date of Death: 04 October 1944, Peleliu, Palau
Buried: Manila American Cemetery – Plot D, Row 16, Grave 83
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He was born in Logansport. His family moved to Oil City when a small boy.
1930 United States Federal Census (07 May 1930): Oil City (Ward 2), Caddo Parish, Louisiana (sheet 25A, family 121, 117 Shreveport - Texarkana Road) – W. A. Greer, Jr. (7 Louisiana).
1940 United States Federal Census (25 April 1940): Oil City (Ward 2), Caddo Parish, Louisiana (sheet 8B, household 195) – William A. Greer, Jr. (16 Louisiana). His family had lived in the same place in 1935.
He graduated from Oil City High School and attended Centenary College and Kilgore Junior College.
William Arthur Greer Jr (19, 30 April 1923, Logansport, Louisiana), a resident of Oil City, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, signed up for his World War II Draft Registration Card (Serial No. N199, Order No. 11,608) on 30 June 1942 in Vivian, Caddo Parish, Louisiana. He was unemployed. William listed his father, W. A. Greer, as the person who would always know his address. He was described as 5' 10" in height, 174 lbs., with a light complexion, brown hair and blue eyes.
William A. Greer Jr enlisted in the U.S. Navy on 15 December 1942 in Louisiana. He was assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps as a medical corpsman.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 28 October 1943 thru at least 31 January 1944
Company "B", Field Medical School Battalion, TC, Camp Elliott, San Diego, California
Pharmacist Mate Third Class William A. Greer (S/N 357-33-13). He joined Company "B" on 28 October 1943 from USNH, San Diego, California. He was a student.
William A. Greer was sent to the South Pacific in April 1944.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – April 1944
52nd Replacement Battalion, At Sea
Pharmacist Mate Second Class William A. Greer (S/N 357-33-13).
PH2c William A. Greer was attached to Headquarters Company, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division, U.S. Marine Corps.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – July 1944 thru 04 October 1944
Headquarters Company, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division, FMF; Class V (6).
Pharmacist Mate Second Class William A. Greer (S/N 357-33-13), U.S. Naval Reserve, Class V (6). 04 October 1944; KIA GSW, back, in action against enemy forces (Japanese) at Peleliu, Palau Islands; 05 October, remains interred in U.S. Arm Forces Cemetery #1, Peleliu, Island – Section No. 4, Grave No. 131.
While serving as a medical corpsman, PhM2c Greer was shot in the back by a Japanese sniper on Peleliu of the Palau Islands, 04 October 1944. He was killed in action.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Battle of Peleliu (15 September 15 – 27 November 1944)
The following describes the conditions on Peleliu when PhM2C Greer was killed:
"The US Marines departed on LST landing craft from Pavuvu, just north of Guadalcanal, for Peleliu in the morning of 4 Sep 1944. The journey was 2,100 miles in distance across the Pacific, and it was made uneventfully.
D-Day on Peleliu was set for 15 September 1944...Three days of naval gunfire preceded the Marines' landing, but it proved inadequate against the well dug-in Japanese...The 7th Marines on the right were to assault Orange Beach 3 and move to take the southern tip of the island....When they arrived at Peleliu, they found the landing beaches a "frightful spectacle. Huge geysers of water rose around the amtracs ahead of us as they approached the reef. The beach was now marked along its length by a continuous sheet of flame backed by a thick wall of smoke." When the landers made it to the beach, they found themselves targets to overwhelming machine gun and rifle fire. Every so often, artillery shells flew in from behind the lines, sending fragments everywhere and occasionally scoring hits on American landing vehicles. Through this most hostile scenery, the Americans secured a beachhead to advance their operations.
20 September 1944
PhM2c William A. GREER, Jr., Hospital Corps, USNR, 1st Marine Division, Palau.
"The weather was hot and humid; even with the frequent rain...The combat at Peleliu was most brutal, with both sides fighting in the most violent manner.
"On 3 Oct, the Marines attacked the Five Sisters, a group of coral hills with five tall peaks. The Marines advanced steadily, but the Japanese sniper fire was so intense that casualty rate was extremely high for the Americans. Very soon, the Japanese realized that it was advantageous to shoot the stretcher bearers, for that it would force the Americans to set aside at least two men as stretcher bearers to bring the downed man back. Again, the Japanese practiced extremely good fire discipline, firing only when they could inflict maximum casualties. "When they shot, someone usually got hit." Source: https://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=77
From BLOODY BEACHES: The Marines at Peleliu.
"On 3 October, reinforced by the attached 3/5 (back from Ngesebus), the 7th Regiment organized a four-battalion attack. The plan called for 1/7 and 3/7 to attack from the north, against Boyd Ridge and the smaller ridges to its west, while 2/7 would attack Pope (Walt) Ridge from the south. The attached 3/5 was ordered to make a diversionary attack from the south into the Horseshoe canyon and its guardian Five Sisters on its west. This regimental attack against the Pocket committed four infantry "battalions," all now closer to company than battalion strength, against the heights near the southern end of the Pocket (Five Sisters), and the ridges at the eastern shoulder of the Pocket (Pope and Boyd Ridges). After heavy casualties, the attack succeeded, but the Five Sisters (four of which 3/5 scaled) were untenable, and had to be abandoned after their seizure.
"The next day, 4 October, the 7th Marines with 3/5 still attached made one more general attack--in the south, again to seize, then give up, positions on the Five Sisters; in the north, to try to advance and consolidate the positions there earlier seized." Source: BLOODY BEACHES: The Marines at Peleliu by Brigadier General Gordon D. Gayle USMC (Ret), page 36 (https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-C-Peleliu/index.html).
By October 15, the 7th Marines had suffered 46% casualties..."When the Battle of Peleliu was over, the Americans suffered over 10,000 casualties, with 2,336 of them killed... The Japanese lost an estimated 10,695 men on the island, with only 302 survived as prisoners.
In the US, the Battle for Peleliu was a controversial battle because of the island's negligible strategic value and the high casualty rate, which exceeded that of all other amphibious operations during the Pacific War. The National Museum of the Marine Corps called it "the bitterest battle of the war for the Marines".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
W. A Greer, Jr. Killed in Action
Mr. and Mrs. W. A Greer, Sr. were notified on Oct. 20th of the death of their son, William Arthur Greer, Jr. who was killed in action on October 4th. The telegram was as follows:
"The Navy Department deeply regrets to inform you that your son William Arthur Greer, Jr., Pharmacists Mate Second Class U.S.N.R. was killed in action on 4 Oct. 1944 while in the service of his country. The Department extends to you its sincerest sympathy in your great loss. On account of existing conditions the body, if recovered, cannot be returned at present. If further details are received you will be informed. To prevent possible aid to our enemies please do not divulge the name of his ship or station.
Vice Admiral Randall Jacobs
The Chief of Naval Personnel"
W. A. was 21 years old. He was born in Logansport and moved to Oil City when a small boy. He graduated from Oil City High School and attended Centenary College and Kilgore Junior College. He joined the Navy Dec. 14, 1942.
Besides his parents, who recently moved back to Logansport, he is survived by one brother, Travis Greer of Cotton Valley, La. Source: The Interstate Progress (Logansport, Louisiana), Friday, 03 November 1944, page 1.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After the war his remains were brought to 7747 USAF Cemetery, Manila #2, Philippine Islands – Block 4, Row 19, Grave 2364 (D-D 6215). The deceased in Manila #2 (over 11,000 American soldiers) rested there until their removal to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum in the summer of 1948. From there, according to the wishes of his next of kin (father, Mr. William A. Greer Sr.), Pharmacist's Mate Second Class William Arthur Greer, Jr., was buried in his final resting place in the 7701 Ft. McKinley Cemetery (now known as the Manila American Cemetery) – Plot D, Row 16, Grave 83
William A. Greer, Jr.
Service #: 357-33-13
Rank: Pharmacist's Mate Second Class, U.S. Navy
Unit: United States Naval Reserve
Entered Service From: Louisiana
Date of Death: 04 October 1944, Peleliu, Palau
Buried: Manila American Cemetery – Plot D, Row 16, Grave 83
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He was born in Logansport. His family moved to Oil City when a small boy.
1930 United States Federal Census (07 May 1930): Oil City (Ward 2), Caddo Parish, Louisiana (sheet 25A, family 121, 117 Shreveport - Texarkana Road) – W. A. Greer, Jr. (7 Louisiana).
1940 United States Federal Census (25 April 1940): Oil City (Ward 2), Caddo Parish, Louisiana (sheet 8B, household 195) – William A. Greer, Jr. (16 Louisiana). His family had lived in the same place in 1935.
He graduated from Oil City High School and attended Centenary College and Kilgore Junior College.
William Arthur Greer Jr (19, 30 April 1923, Logansport, Louisiana), a resident of Oil City, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, signed up for his World War II Draft Registration Card (Serial No. N199, Order No. 11,608) on 30 June 1942 in Vivian, Caddo Parish, Louisiana. He was unemployed. William listed his father, W. A. Greer, as the person who would always know his address. He was described as 5' 10" in height, 174 lbs., with a light complexion, brown hair and blue eyes.
William A. Greer Jr enlisted in the U.S. Navy on 15 December 1942 in Louisiana. He was assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps as a medical corpsman.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 28 October 1943 thru at least 31 January 1944
Company "B", Field Medical School Battalion, TC, Camp Elliott, San Diego, California
Pharmacist Mate Third Class William A. Greer (S/N 357-33-13). He joined Company "B" on 28 October 1943 from USNH, San Diego, California. He was a student.
William A. Greer was sent to the South Pacific in April 1944.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – April 1944
52nd Replacement Battalion, At Sea
Pharmacist Mate Second Class William A. Greer (S/N 357-33-13).
PH2c William A. Greer was attached to Headquarters Company, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division, U.S. Marine Corps.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – July 1944 thru 04 October 1944
Headquarters Company, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division, FMF; Class V (6).
Pharmacist Mate Second Class William A. Greer (S/N 357-33-13), U.S. Naval Reserve, Class V (6). 04 October 1944; KIA GSW, back, in action against enemy forces (Japanese) at Peleliu, Palau Islands; 05 October, remains interred in U.S. Arm Forces Cemetery #1, Peleliu, Island – Section No. 4, Grave No. 131.
While serving as a medical corpsman, PhM2c Greer was shot in the back by a Japanese sniper on Peleliu of the Palau Islands, 04 October 1944. He was killed in action.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Battle of Peleliu (15 September 15 – 27 November 1944)
The following describes the conditions on Peleliu when PhM2C Greer was killed:
"The US Marines departed on LST landing craft from Pavuvu, just north of Guadalcanal, for Peleliu in the morning of 4 Sep 1944. The journey was 2,100 miles in distance across the Pacific, and it was made uneventfully.
D-Day on Peleliu was set for 15 September 1944...Three days of naval gunfire preceded the Marines' landing, but it proved inadequate against the well dug-in Japanese...The 7th Marines on the right were to assault Orange Beach 3 and move to take the southern tip of the island....When they arrived at Peleliu, they found the landing beaches a "frightful spectacle. Huge geysers of water rose around the amtracs ahead of us as they approached the reef. The beach was now marked along its length by a continuous sheet of flame backed by a thick wall of smoke." When the landers made it to the beach, they found themselves targets to overwhelming machine gun and rifle fire. Every so often, artillery shells flew in from behind the lines, sending fragments everywhere and occasionally scoring hits on American landing vehicles. Through this most hostile scenery, the Americans secured a beachhead to advance their operations.
20 September 1944
PhM2c William A. GREER, Jr., Hospital Corps, USNR, 1st Marine Division, Palau.
"The weather was hot and humid; even with the frequent rain...The combat at Peleliu was most brutal, with both sides fighting in the most violent manner.
"On 3 Oct, the Marines attacked the Five Sisters, a group of coral hills with five tall peaks. The Marines advanced steadily, but the Japanese sniper fire was so intense that casualty rate was extremely high for the Americans. Very soon, the Japanese realized that it was advantageous to shoot the stretcher bearers, for that it would force the Americans to set aside at least two men as stretcher bearers to bring the downed man back. Again, the Japanese practiced extremely good fire discipline, firing only when they could inflict maximum casualties. "When they shot, someone usually got hit." Source: https://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=77
From BLOODY BEACHES: The Marines at Peleliu.
"On 3 October, reinforced by the attached 3/5 (back from Ngesebus), the 7th Regiment organized a four-battalion attack. The plan called for 1/7 and 3/7 to attack from the north, against Boyd Ridge and the smaller ridges to its west, while 2/7 would attack Pope (Walt) Ridge from the south. The attached 3/5 was ordered to make a diversionary attack from the south into the Horseshoe canyon and its guardian Five Sisters on its west. This regimental attack against the Pocket committed four infantry "battalions," all now closer to company than battalion strength, against the heights near the southern end of the Pocket (Five Sisters), and the ridges at the eastern shoulder of the Pocket (Pope and Boyd Ridges). After heavy casualties, the attack succeeded, but the Five Sisters (four of which 3/5 scaled) were untenable, and had to be abandoned after their seizure.
"The next day, 4 October, the 7th Marines with 3/5 still attached made one more general attack--in the south, again to seize, then give up, positions on the Five Sisters; in the north, to try to advance and consolidate the positions there earlier seized." Source: BLOODY BEACHES: The Marines at Peleliu by Brigadier General Gordon D. Gayle USMC (Ret), page 36 (https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-C-Peleliu/index.html).
By October 15, the 7th Marines had suffered 46% casualties..."When the Battle of Peleliu was over, the Americans suffered over 10,000 casualties, with 2,336 of them killed... The Japanese lost an estimated 10,695 men on the island, with only 302 survived as prisoners.
In the US, the Battle for Peleliu was a controversial battle because of the island's negligible strategic value and the high casualty rate, which exceeded that of all other amphibious operations during the Pacific War. The National Museum of the Marine Corps called it "the bitterest battle of the war for the Marines".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
W. A Greer, Jr. Killed in Action
Mr. and Mrs. W. A Greer, Sr. were notified on Oct. 20th of the death of their son, William Arthur Greer, Jr. who was killed in action on October 4th. The telegram was as follows:
"The Navy Department deeply regrets to inform you that your son William Arthur Greer, Jr., Pharmacists Mate Second Class U.S.N.R. was killed in action on 4 Oct. 1944 while in the service of his country. The Department extends to you its sincerest sympathy in your great loss. On account of existing conditions the body, if recovered, cannot be returned at present. If further details are received you will be informed. To prevent possible aid to our enemies please do not divulge the name of his ship or station.
Vice Admiral Randall Jacobs
The Chief of Naval Personnel"
W. A. was 21 years old. He was born in Logansport and moved to Oil City when a small boy. He graduated from Oil City High School and attended Centenary College and Kilgore Junior College. He joined the Navy Dec. 14, 1942.
Besides his parents, who recently moved back to Logansport, he is survived by one brother, Travis Greer of Cotton Valley, La. Source: The Interstate Progress (Logansport, Louisiana), Friday, 03 November 1944, page 1.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After the war his remains were brought to 7747 USAF Cemetery, Manila #2, Philippine Islands – Block 4, Row 19, Grave 2364 (D-D 6215). The deceased in Manila #2 (over 11,000 American soldiers) rested there until their removal to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum in the summer of 1948. From there, according to the wishes of his next of kin (father, Mr. William A. Greer Sr.), Pharmacist's Mate Second Class William Arthur Greer, Jr., was buried in his final resting place in the 7701 Ft. McKinley Cemetery (now known as the Manila American Cemetery) – Plot D, Row 16, Grave 83
Service #: 357-33-13
Rank: Pharmacist's Mate Second Class, U.S. Navy
Unit: United States Naval Reserve
Entered Service From: Louisiana
Date of Death: 04 October 1944, Peleliu, Palau
Buried: Manila American Cemetery – Plot D, Row 16, Grave 83
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He was born in Logansport. His family moved to Oil City when a small boy.
1930 United States Federal Census (07 May 1930): Oil City (Ward 2), Caddo Parish, Louisiana (sheet 25A, family 121, 117 Shreveport - Texarkana Road) – W. A. Greer, Jr. (7 Louisiana).
1940 United States Federal Census (25 April 1940): Oil City (Ward 2), Caddo Parish, Louisiana (sheet 8B, household 195) – William A. Greer, Jr. (16 Louisiana). His family had lived in the same place in 1935.
He graduated from Oil City High School and attended Centenary College and Kilgore Junior College.
William Arthur Greer Jr (19, 30 April 1923, Logansport, Louisiana), a resident of Oil City, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, signed up for his World War II Draft Registration Card (Serial No. N199, Order No. 11,608) on 30 June 1942 in Vivian, Caddo Parish, Louisiana. He was unemployed. William listed his father, W. A. Greer, as the person who would always know his address. He was described as 5' 10" in height, 174 lbs., with a light complexion, brown hair and blue eyes.
William A. Greer Jr enlisted in the U.S. Navy on 15 December 1942 in Louisiana. He was assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps as a medical corpsman.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 28 October 1943 thru at least 31 January 1944
Company "B", Field Medical School Battalion, TC, Camp Elliott, San Diego, California
Pharmacist Mate Third Class William A. Greer (S/N 357-33-13). He joined Company "B" on 28 October 1943 from USNH, San Diego, California. He was a student.
William A. Greer was sent to the South Pacific in April 1944.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – April 1944
52nd Replacement Battalion, At Sea
Pharmacist Mate Second Class William A. Greer (S/N 357-33-13).
PH2c William A. Greer was attached to Headquarters Company, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division, U.S. Marine Corps.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – July 1944 thru 04 October 1944
Headquarters Company, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division, FMF; Class V (6).
Pharmacist Mate Second Class William A. Greer (S/N 357-33-13), U.S. Naval Reserve, Class V (6). 04 October 1944; KIA GSW, back, in action against enemy forces (Japanese) at Peleliu, Palau Islands; 05 October, remains interred in U.S. Arm Forces Cemetery #1, Peleliu, Island – Section No. 4, Grave No. 131.
While serving as a medical corpsman, PhM2c Greer was shot in the back by a Japanese sniper on Peleliu of the Palau Islands, 04 October 1944. He was killed in action.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Battle of Peleliu (15 September 15 – 27 November 1944)
The following describes the conditions on Peleliu when PhM2C Greer was killed:
"The US Marines departed on LST landing craft from Pavuvu, just north of Guadalcanal, for Peleliu in the morning of 4 Sep 1944. The journey was 2,100 miles in distance across the Pacific, and it was made uneventfully.
D-Day on Peleliu was set for 15 September 1944...Three days of naval gunfire preceded the Marines' landing, but it proved inadequate against the well dug-in Japanese...The 7th Marines on the right were to assault Orange Beach 3 and move to take the southern tip of the island....When they arrived at Peleliu, they found the landing beaches a "frightful spectacle. Huge geysers of water rose around the amtracs ahead of us as they approached the reef. The beach was now marked along its length by a continuous sheet of flame backed by a thick wall of smoke." When the landers made it to the beach, they found themselves targets to overwhelming machine gun and rifle fire. Every so often, artillery shells flew in from behind the lines, sending fragments everywhere and occasionally scoring hits on American landing vehicles. Through this most hostile scenery, the Americans secured a beachhead to advance their operations.
20 September 1944
PhM2c William A. GREER, Jr., Hospital Corps, USNR, 1st Marine Division, Palau.
"The weather was hot and humid; even with the frequent rain...The combat at Peleliu was most brutal, with both sides fighting in the most violent manner.
"On 3 Oct, the Marines attacked the Five Sisters, a group of coral hills with five tall peaks. The Marines advanced steadily, but the Japanese sniper fire was so intense that casualty rate was extremely high for the Americans. Very soon, the Japanese realized that it was advantageous to shoot the stretcher bearers, for that it would force the Americans to set aside at least two men as stretcher bearers to bring the downed man back. Again, the Japanese practiced extremely good fire discipline, firing only when they could inflict maximum casualties. "When they shot, someone usually got hit." Source: https://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=77
From BLOODY BEACHES: The Marines at Peleliu.
"On 3 October, reinforced by the attached 3/5 (back from Ngesebus), the 7th Regiment organized a four-battalion attack. The plan called for 1/7 and 3/7 to attack from the north, against Boyd Ridge and the smaller ridges to its west, while 2/7 would attack Pope (Walt) Ridge from the south. The attached 3/5 was ordered to make a diversionary attack from the south into the Horseshoe canyon and its guardian Five Sisters on its west. This regimental attack against the Pocket committed four infantry "battalions," all now closer to company than battalion strength, against the heights near the southern end of the Pocket (Five Sisters), and the ridges at the eastern shoulder of the Pocket (Pope and Boyd Ridges). After heavy casualties, the attack succeeded, but the Five Sisters (four of which 3/5 scaled) were untenable, and had to be abandoned after their seizure.
"The next day, 4 October, the 7th Marines with 3/5 still attached made one more general attack--in the south, again to seize, then give up, positions on the Five Sisters; in the north, to try to advance and consolidate the positions there earlier seized." Source: BLOODY BEACHES: The Marines at Peleliu by Brigadier General Gordon D. Gayle USMC (Ret), page 36 (https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-C-Peleliu/index.html).
By October 15, the 7th Marines had suffered 46% casualties..."When the Battle of Peleliu was over, the Americans suffered over 10,000 casualties, with 2,336 of them killed... The Japanese lost an estimated 10,695 men on the island, with only 302 survived as prisoners.
In the US, the Battle for Peleliu was a controversial battle because of the island's negligible strategic value and the high casualty rate, which exceeded that of all other amphibious operations during the Pacific War. The National Museum of the Marine Corps called it "the bitterest battle of the war for the Marines".
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W. A Greer, Jr. Killed in Action
Mr. and Mrs. W. A Greer, Sr. were notified on Oct. 20th of the death of their son, William Arthur Greer, Jr. who was killed in action on October 4th. The telegram was as follows:
"The Navy Department deeply regrets to inform you that your son William Arthur Greer, Jr., Pharmacists Mate Second Class U.S.N.R. was killed in action on 4 Oct. 1944 while in the service of his country. The Department extends to you its sincerest sympathy in your great loss. On account of existing conditions the body, if recovered, cannot be returned at present. If further details are received you will be informed. To prevent possible aid to our enemies please do not divulge the name of his ship or station.
Vice Admiral Randall Jacobs
The Chief of Naval Personnel"
W. A. was 21 years old. He was born in Logansport and moved to Oil City when a small boy. He graduated from Oil City High School and attended Centenary College and Kilgore Junior College. He joined the Navy Dec. 14, 1942.
Besides his parents, who recently moved back to Logansport, he is survived by one brother, Travis Greer of Cotton Valley, La. Source: The Interstate Progress (Logansport, Louisiana), Friday, 03 November 1944, page 1.
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After the war his remains were brought to 7747 USAF Cemetery, Manila #2, Philippine Islands – Block 4, Row 19, Grave 2364 (D-D 6215). The deceased in Manila #2 (over 11,000 American soldiers) rested there until their removal to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum in the summer of 1948. From there, according to the wishes of his next of kin (father, Mr. William A. Greer Sr.), Pharmacist's Mate Second Class William Arthur Greer, Jr., was buried in his final resting place in the 7701 Ft. McKinley Cemetery (now known as the Manila American Cemetery) – Plot D, Row 16, Grave 83
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Louisiana.
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