Background
Francis Stevens Greenlief was born in Hastings, Nebraska on July 17, 1921.
Francis Stevens Greenlief was born in Hastings, Nebraska on July 17, 1921.
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 Greenlief graduated from Officer Candidate School and served as a platoon leader and company commander with the 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division. He graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in 1955.
He served as the 18th Chief of the He participated in the Battle of Normandy, liberation of Saint-Lô, and the Battle of the Bulge. In 1947 Greenlief returned to the Nebraska National Guard as commander of Company G, 134th Infantry Regiment. Greenlief was a colonel when he began his career at the 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 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 In 1969 Greenlief qualified in the Aviation branch and received the Army Aviator Badge.
He served as chief of the 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.
From 1974 to 1984, Greenlief served as executive vice president of the National Guard Association of the United States. He later worked as a consultant for several defense contracting firms, including United Defense of York, Pennsylvania. In retirement Greenlief resided in Oakton, Virginia.
He died from cancer at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia on December 19, 1999.
Greenlief is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 30, Grave 950-B. The Nebraska National Guard"s facility in Hastings is named the Greenlief Training Site. The Army National Guard presents the annual Greenlief Award for Excellence in Aviation.
Jensen, Ron (August 2010).
In addition to his combat awards, Greenlief was a recipient of the Army Distinguished Service Medal and Air Force Distinguished Service Meda 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.
