Charley Greenockle
Ballplayers Wounded in Combat
| Date and Place of Birth: | February 17, 1917 East Meadow, NY |
| Date and Place of Death: | February 5, 1990 New York, NY |
| Baseball Experience: | Minor League |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Rank: | Second Lieutenant |
| Military Unit: | 53rd Armored Infantry Battalion, 4th Armored Division US Army |
| Area Served: | European Theater of Operations |
Charles E. Greenockle, the son of John and Anna Greenockle, was born on
February 17, 1917, in East Meadow, New York. He was a sensational
right-handed pitcher for Joe Fay's Hempstead High School team from 1932
to 1935 and also pitched for the Hempstead team in the Class B Nassau
County Junior Legion league.
On July 19, 1934, aged just 17, Greenockle was at Ebbets Field, showing
his pitching talents to the visiting Pirates' manager, Pie Traynor.
Following graduation from high school in 1935, he pitched for the North
Bellmore Community Club and had a tryout with the Yankees in 1937. In
1938, he signed a contract with Williamsport of the Eastern League - an
Athletics farm club - and was optioned to the Lexington Indians of the
Class D North Carolina State League. In nine appearances he was 5-2 with
a 4.67 ERA. He continued to pitch for Lexington in 1939, and returned to
the team in 1940. He was 1-2 with a 3.08 ERA before pulling a muscle
below the elbow of his throwing arm in late May. Manager, Lester Smith,
sent Greenockle home to rest. It was to be the end of his professional
career.
In August 1940, Greenockle pitched for the East Meadow Boosters of the
Nassau Alliance and took a job with the Doubleday, Doran company in
Garden City.
In February 1942, Greenockle entered military service and trained at
Pine Camp, New York. On May 17, 1942, he married Dorothy Kleeman, and
was sent overseas with the 53rd Armored Infantry Battalion of the 4th
Armored Division in December 1943. After training in England from
January to July 1944, the 53rd landed at Utah Beach, on July 11, 1944,
over a month after the initial Normandy landings, and first entered
combat on July 17.
Two days after entering combat Technical Sergeant Greenockle suffered
serious leg wounds during a German counterattack as the 53rd were moving
forward to relieve the 8th Infantry Regiment
northeast of Perriers, France.
It wasn't until April 1945, that Greenockle returned to his unit. He
also received a promotion to second lieutenant. In his recommendation
for the promotion, his commanding officer, Captain Alfred J. Owen, said,
"Technical Sergeant Greenockle has been platoon sergeant of the second
platoon of this organization for about 19 months, during which time, in
combat, he has proven his ability of leadership."
With the war over, Greenockle returned home to the United States and was
honorably discharged at Fort Dix, New Jersey, in Novemebr 1945.
On May 5, 1946, Greenock, 29 returned to baseball in New York and
pitched four innings in relief for the North Merrick club, earning the
win in a 6-5 win over Grant Park.
Charley Greenock passed away in New York on February 5, 1990, aged 72.
Date Added December 22, 2017
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