Howard Earl Greer (May 1, 1921 – November 22, 2015) was a vice admiral in the United States Navy. He held a Master's Degree in Business Administration from George Washington University, and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1943, from the Naval War Command and Staff School in 1954, and from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1961. His Naval career started in 1943 aboard the USS Princeton from the campaigns at Tarawa until the first attack on the Philippines. He then entered flight training and was designated a

Naval Aviator Naval aviation is the application of military air power by navies, whether from warships that embark aircraft, or land bases. Naval aviation is typically projected to a position nearer the target by way of an aircraft carrier. Carrier-based a ...

in November, 1945. He served aboard the USS Leyte from 1946-1947. He then served aboard

USS Coral Sea Three ships of the United States Navy have been named USS ''Coral Sea'', commemorating the Battle of the Coral Sea during World War II. All three were aircraft carriers. Of the three vessels, only one retained the name through its career. * was a ...

from 1951-1952. He served with Fighter Squadrons Seventy-One, Sixty-Two, One Hundred One, and Attack Squadron Two Hundred Fourteen. Aboard USS Midway he commanded Fighter Squadron Sixy-Four from 1957-1958. From 1961-1962 he was Commander Attack Air Group Ten aboard the

USS Shangri-La USS ''Shangri-La'' (CV/CVA/CVS-38) was one of 24 s completed during or shortly after World War II for the United States Navy. Commissioned in 1944 and named after the mythical paradise of the same name, ''Shangri-La'' participated in several ...

. After this time he also served: * As aide to the

Deputy Chief of Naval Operations The chief of naval operations (CNO) is the professional head of the United States Navy. The position is a statutory office () held by an admiral who is a military adviser and deputy to the secretary of the Navy. In a separate capacity as a mem ...

(Air) * On the staff of the

Chief of Naval Operations The chief of naval operations (CNO) is the professional head of the United States Navy. The position is a statutory office () held by an admiral who is a military adviser and deputy to the secretary of the Navy. In a separate capacity as a memb ...

* As Commander Fleet Air Jacksonville * As Commander

Sixth Fleet The Sixth Fleet is a numbered fleet of the United States Navy operating as part of United States Naval Forces Europe. The Sixth Fleet is headquartered at Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy. The officially stated mission of the Sixth Fleet in ...

* As Commander Naval Air Force Atlantic * As Commander Carrier Division Seven * As Commander Seventh Fleet He was the commanding officer aboard the USS Ponchatoula and went on to be the 21st commander of the USS ''Hancock'' (CV-19), chief of staff of Naval Air Force Pacific, commander Naval Air Reserve Force, and

Commander, Naval Air Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic (a. k. a. COMNAVAIRLANT, AIRLANT, and CNAL) is the aviation Type Commander (TYCOM) for the United States Naval aviation units operating primarily in the Atlantic under United States Fleet Forces Command. Type Co ...

. His awards include 2 Distinguished Service Medals, 4 Legions of Merit, the Navy Commendation Medal, Pacific Theater WW II Ribbon with 9 Battle Stars and the Vietnamese Distinguished Service Award. He died in 2015. 1969 USS Hancock Yearbook

References

United States Navy vice admirals 1921 births 2015 deaths People from Tyler, Texas United States Naval Academy alumni George Washington University alumni United States Navy personnel of World War II {{US-navy-bio-stub