Individual Details
(November 1, 1904 - March 7, 1967)
"Retires After Thirty Years of Service - July 1954 ... Marine Commissioned Warrant Officer, William B. Greear, Jr, son of Mrs. Flora Greear of Cliffield, Virginia, was retired from the Marine Corps on April 30 at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California after 30 years of service. Mr. Greear reviewed a regimental parade of some 3000 men in his honor with Marine Brig. Gen. William Whaling, Commanding General of the Recruit Depot. Mr. Greear, former leader of the Depot band, started his musical Marine career after completing his recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina in 1924 by joining the band there and staying with it for the next eight years. Upon the occupation of Haiti by the Marine Corps, he was chosen to head the band on the island, where he was stationed for 2 years. In 1932 he was bandmaster at the Marine Corps schools, Quantico, Virginia and in 1934 returned to Parris Island, this time as leader. "I guess my bands have played for all the Commandants of the Marine Corps since the 1920's, and twice for President Roosevelt," reminisces Greear. He began a tour of duty in 1940 that was to take him half way around the world. In that year he became leader of the First Brigade band at Quantico. The band followed the brigade to Cuba for maneuvers and back to Tent City, New River, North Carolina, which is now Camp Lejeune, where the brigade became the nucleus of the newly formed First Marine Division. The war years took the band to New Zealand and Australia, and it was in the (missing) that Mr. Greear received his commission in 1943. He returned to Parris Island and remained there from 1944 to 1947. Tsintao, China was his next duty station in 1947 and was followed by Guam in 1948. Mr. Greear plans to settle down on his chicken farm in Cliffield." (Lois Temple FGS 394)
Events
| Birth | November 1, 1904 | Honaker, Russell County, Virginia | | | |
| Death | March 7, 1967 | | | | |
| Marriage | | Catherine Mae Tucker | | | |
Families