US Army PFC Edward Henry Greene was born in Gadsden County, Florida on December 11, 1930, the son of Lyster Vaden Greene (1901-1971) and Mary Annie Gay (1907-1973). In 1930, the Greene's were living in Dunedin, Florida while their father worked on road construction. Ten years later they had moved to Perry, Mississippi where their father was a machine operator still working on the roads. Within two years they were in Pensacola and living at 516 West Gregory Street while Lyster was working for the Hardaway Construction Company at NAS.
Then came June 25, 1950 that brought the North Korean invaders pouring over the border into South Korea. Back home, America's call to arms rang out across the country and young men and women rushed to the enlistment centers to sign up. One of those patriots was Pensacolian Edward Henry Greene who enlisted in the US Army.
He had a good role model to follow since older brother Ernest W. Greene had served in the Navy during WWII and was now serving as a sergeant with the Army in Korea. After his processing and basic training, Edward was assigned to the Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion of the 38th Infantry Regiment attached to the 2nd Infantry Division.
Following the Chosin Reservoir fighting, the Chinese had driven the UN forces south to Seoul, which eventually capitulated to the enemy. After desperate fighting, the 8th Army, which contained the 2nd Division with the 38th Regiment, massed their forces for a final defense. It was at the battles of Chipyong and Wonju that the enemy advance was stopped cold. The 8th Army then counter-attacked with great enemy loss, recaptured Seoul, and then drove the enemy to the 38th Parallel. It was during this offensive that Pensacolian Edward H. Greene was killed in action.
During a lull in the fighting, the dead Americans were gathered up and turned over to Graves Registration for processing and burial. The corresponding telegrams were sent out notifying the families of their loved one's demise. The Greene family received theirs at their home at 1117 North Widow's Lane, which stated that Edward was "Missing in Action." By March, they were told he was dead. Eight months later, their son was brought home and buried with full military honors at Barrancas Cemetery on October 8, 1951.
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