Infantry Soldiers honor fallen comrade

Pvt. Nathan Brown (kneeling), a Soldier with 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Rgt., and another 4-31 Infantry Soldier pay final respects to Pfc. Satieon Greenlee during a memorial ceremony Oct. 10 in Iraq. Photo by Staff Sgt. Angela McKinzie

MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq – “Greenlee!” … No answer. … “Pfc. Greenlee!” … No answer. … “Pfc. Satieon Greenlee!” … Still no answer.

Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI), gathered to honor Pfc. Satieon Greenlee, a fallen comrade, during a memorial ceremony Oct. 10 here.

Greenlee, a native of Pendleton, S.C., who served as a personal security detachment gunner for 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, was killed Oct. 2 in Baghdad when his convoy was attacked by enemy small-arms fire.

“Greenlee was a natural, gifted Soldier. … He was very disciplined and never complained – not once,” said Staff Sgt. Tony Smith, Greenlee’s platoon sergeant. “He had an upbeat personality and never had a negative attitude.”

As Soldiers gathered to honor Greenlee, his best friend shared memories.

“I remember while we were at the National Training Center in California, Greenlee and I were on a training mission and I ran out of ammunition,” said Pvt. Nathan Brown, a 4-31 Infantry squad automatic weapon gunner. “When I asked him for some of his (ammunition), he laughed and would not give me any – he loved to shoot the weapon.

“I used to go to his house and hang out with his family and two little boys,” Brown recalled. “He loved his little boys.”

Toward the end of the ceremony, emotions were strong as each Soldier paid his final respects, but everyone knew Greenlee died a hero.

“That day (that Greenlee was killed), he was heroic. He stared evil and death in the face with no fear,” Smith said. “He was a warrior – a hero. He gave the ultimate sacrifice for us, his brothers and sisters.”
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Army Service Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge.

Greenlee is survived by his wife, Natasha, and two sons, Quintieon and Kuaimaine, of Fort Drum.