Earl D. 'Bud' Greer, 79

Earl D. “Bud” Greer was born in 1944 to Marie and Earl Greer Sr. When he was 6 years old, Bud lost his father, a man who was a “hard worker, determined to finish whatever he started.” His mother, Marie, was, in Bud’s words, “the best mom in the world, a self-made person, hard but fair, and she loved her kids.” At age 22, Bud’s military career began, as did an integral part of his identity. Some might say he was born to be Army.

Colonel Earl D. Greer began his military career in 1966 at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., followed by Armor Advanced Individual Training at Fort Knox, Ky. Upon graduation from the Officer Candidate School at Fort Knox in 1967, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant, Armor. Colonel Greer has served in a variety of command and staff assignments, including: Training Officer and Commander, B Company, 1st Battalion, 2d Brigade at Fort Leonard Wood; Scout Platoon Leader, 2d Battalion, 34th Armor, Republic of Vietnam; Operations Officer, 1st Battalion, 70th Armor at Fort Knox; Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company and Combat Support Company, 1st Battalion, 73d Armor, 2d Infantry Division, in the Republic of Korea; Instructor, United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.; G-3 Training Officer, 1st Infantry Division (Forward) and Operations Officer, 4th Battalion, 73rd Armor in the Federal Republic of Germany; Staff Operations Officer (National Training Center central point of contact), Active Component Training Division, Headquarters, Forces Command, Fort McPherson, Ga.; Executive Officer to the Commanding General, Combined Arms Training Activity, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.; Commander, 1st Battalion, 34th Armor, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.; Executive Officer and Commander, Readiness Group Stewart, Newburg, N.Y.; and Chief, Operational Readiness Evaluation Division, First United States Army, Fort Meade, Md. Colonel Greer retired from active military service June 1, 1993.

Colonel Greer's educational accomplishments include graduation from the United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania; the United States Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth; the Armor Officer Advanced Course; the Organizational Maintenance Officer Course; and the Armor Officer Candidate School, Fort Knox. He has earned a master of science degree in public administration from Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, Pa., and a bachelor of science degree in education from Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg, Mo.

Colonel Greer is the recipient of the United States Army's Distinguished Service Cross, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart (three awards), the Meritorious Service Medal (five awards), the Army Commendation Medal (three awards), and other service and campaign awards. He has also been admitted into the United States Armor Association's Order of Saint George as a Distinguished Knight and inducted into the United States Army Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame.

Bud was quiet about the stories behind the medals, as he experienced firsthand the real cost of the freedoms he so staunchly protected. His family eventually learned of his exceptionally valorous actions through official Army documents available online in The Hall of Valor Project. 

Two weeks before his passing, Bud did share an incident when his tank was hit by enemy fire, causing him to literally be blown out of it. He wrote the words “Try Again” on the side of the replacement tank. Such was the tenacity with which Bud lived his life.

In his personal life, Bud was known for his wit, stubbornness, commitment, and loyalty. He has called Kootenai County home since 1993 and in his retirement served as the 911 director. He was also an avid fly fisherman, voracious reader, and talented self-taught craftsman. 

Bud is survived by his wife of 56 years — his "one true love" — Carlyn; son Patrick (Patty) Greer; daughter Kathy (Bruce) Baker; grandsons Cameron Mowery and Harrison Baker; and granddaughter Madeline (Jacob) Kraut. He is also survived by his sister, Waunita Henson of Gerald, Mo. Bud's story is incomplete without including the animals he rescued over the years, the horses he rode as a young man, and the intentionality with which he cared for his family. 

Following the final orders of Colonel Greer, a memorial service and “party” will be held at a date to be determined later this year. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Idaho State Veterans Home in Post Falls, Idaho (590 S. Pleasant View Road Post Falls, ID 83854).

Yates Funeral Home is entrusted with the care of arrangements. Please visit Bud’s memorial and sign his guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.