CPL. Thomas Greenway
US Army Medic
Medical Company 279th Infantry Regiment
Korea June ‘51 to April ‘53
US Army Medic
Medical Company 279th Infantry Regiment
Korea June ‘51 to April ‘53
Tom Greenway was born at home in Green Creek, North Carolina in 1930 with the help of a cousin who was a doctor. Tom had a big family with seven sisters and three brothers. In 1949 Tom graduated from high school. He knew he was going to be drafted and was hopeful he could avoid the Army, by joining the Air Force. Unfortunately for Tom, the Air Force had frozen the enlistments and 6 months letter he received a draft notice and a notice to report for a medical for the US Army. On June 11th 1951, Tom and Ruth got married and both of them had to lie about their age to get married. On June 19th Tom reported to Ft. Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina for Basic Training along with two buddies, Bryan Womack and Frank Foy. Bryan Womack was later killed in Korea and received the Medal of Honor.
The draft notice was a meaningful problem for Tom, who was a religious man and deeply involved in his church. He needed to figure out how he could honor the commandment, ‘thou shall not kill’ and still serve his country.
“I didn’t want to shoot nobody. So, they put me right where I wanted”. The Army made Tom a combat Medic. “I could go out on patrol, and I could either carry a weapon or just an aid kit and a stretcher. Whatever I wanted to”.
Tom went to Ft. Meade in Maryland for medical training and then to Ft. Sam Houston for a medical technician course. Around the first of the year in 1952 Tom was on a ship headed for Incheon Korea. 21 days later he was in Korea and headed to the 45th Replacement Center.
Tom was assigned to the 121st EVAC Hospital in Ascom City, Korea which was behind the lines and away from the heavy action. It resembled the hospital in the TV series ‘MASH’. “I thought I had it made. I was supposed to be stationed there permanently”. As the tempo of the war increased, the demand for medics on the front lines increased. Several months into his tour Tom was called to the front lines.
He took care of the wounded on Heartbreak Ridge. The battle on Heartbreak Ridge began on September 13th1951 and lasted for 30 days. The American and UN forces battled the North Korean and Chinese forces on a ridge of hills. The steep rocky terrain and the fierce fighting and heavy artillery bombardments resulted in a huge loss of life and equipment for both sides. Tom must have had his hands full. “You were either scared or a liar. You just focused on your job and prayed”. Tom would go on patrol with the infantry soldiers. Tom recalls the soldiers calling the medics bedpan commanders back in the states. But In battle they called him Doc. Greenway also carried a Brownie box camera and took many pictures to record his time in the war.
In January of 1953 Tom got a pass for a week of R&R. There were three places they could go for R&R and Tom wanted to go to Tokyo. He was told that plane was full. He didn’t care where he went and ended up going to Kakura. A week later when they returned, they found out that the plane headed for Tokyo had crashed and everyone on board was killed. Tom called his wife and remembered he spoke for 3 minutes for $10.00. When he returned to his unit, he was told he had earned enough points to rotate home.
Tom returned home on the ship, General Nelson Walker, that docked in San Francisco. From there they flew to Fort Jackson in South Carolina. The Army him a pass and he headed home where he met his son for the first time.
Tom was discharged shortly after and he went back to working at the Community Cash grocery store. He moved to the A&P and then got a job at a Firestone Plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Tom was pouring concrete, working in the paint department, and then the supply room. Shortly after he started, he didn’t think the job was for him. One day the “head man” at the plant asked, “Tom, how do you like the job in the time office?” “I don’t. I am going to be looking for something else” replied Tom. “We have confidence in you. Why don’t you have some in yourself”.
“I got to thinking, that man is trying to help me. So, I told him I was going to stay and be the best timekeeper they ever had”. 30 years later he retired. “By changing my attitude, I kept the best job I ever had.”
When Tom got married, he said it wasn’t supposed to last six months. 70 years later he and Ruth have 3 sons, one daughter and eight grandchildren.
Doc, we’re glad you were able to take care of those boys on Heartbreak Ridge and also keep your promise to God.
The draft notice was a meaningful problem for Tom, who was a religious man and deeply involved in his church. He needed to figure out how he could honor the commandment, ‘thou shall not kill’ and still serve his country.
“I didn’t want to shoot nobody. So, they put me right where I wanted”. The Army made Tom a combat Medic. “I could go out on patrol, and I could either carry a weapon or just an aid kit and a stretcher. Whatever I wanted to”.
Tom went to Ft. Meade in Maryland for medical training and then to Ft. Sam Houston for a medical technician course. Around the first of the year in 1952 Tom was on a ship headed for Incheon Korea. 21 days later he was in Korea and headed to the 45th Replacement Center.
Tom was assigned to the 121st EVAC Hospital in Ascom City, Korea which was behind the lines and away from the heavy action. It resembled the hospital in the TV series ‘MASH’. “I thought I had it made. I was supposed to be stationed there permanently”. As the tempo of the war increased, the demand for medics on the front lines increased. Several months into his tour Tom was called to the front lines.
He took care of the wounded on Heartbreak Ridge. The battle on Heartbreak Ridge began on September 13th1951 and lasted for 30 days. The American and UN forces battled the North Korean and Chinese forces on a ridge of hills. The steep rocky terrain and the fierce fighting and heavy artillery bombardments resulted in a huge loss of life and equipment for both sides. Tom must have had his hands full. “You were either scared or a liar. You just focused on your job and prayed”. Tom would go on patrol with the infantry soldiers. Tom recalls the soldiers calling the medics bedpan commanders back in the states. But In battle they called him Doc. Greenway also carried a Brownie box camera and took many pictures to record his time in the war.
In January of 1953 Tom got a pass for a week of R&R. There were three places they could go for R&R and Tom wanted to go to Tokyo. He was told that plane was full. He didn’t care where he went and ended up going to Kakura. A week later when they returned, they found out that the plane headed for Tokyo had crashed and everyone on board was killed. Tom called his wife and remembered he spoke for 3 minutes for $10.00. When he returned to his unit, he was told he had earned enough points to rotate home.
Tom returned home on the ship, General Nelson Walker, that docked in San Francisco. From there they flew to Fort Jackson in South Carolina. The Army him a pass and he headed home where he met his son for the first time.
Tom was discharged shortly after and he went back to working at the Community Cash grocery store. He moved to the A&P and then got a job at a Firestone Plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Tom was pouring concrete, working in the paint department, and then the supply room. Shortly after he started, he didn’t think the job was for him. One day the “head man” at the plant asked, “Tom, how do you like the job in the time office?” “I don’t. I am going to be looking for something else” replied Tom. “We have confidence in you. Why don’t you have some in yourself”.
“I got to thinking, that man is trying to help me. So, I told him I was going to stay and be the best timekeeper they ever had”. 30 years later he retired. “By changing my attitude, I kept the best job I ever had.”
When Tom got married, he said it wasn’t supposed to last six months. 70 years later he and Ruth have 3 sons, one daughter and eight grandchildren.
Doc, we’re glad you were able to take care of those boys on Heartbreak Ridge and also keep your promise to God.