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By Bob Reinert/USAG Natick Public Affairs

NATICK, Mass. (July 10, 2015) – To honor a former Natick Soldier Systems Center, or NSSC, commander, who was killed in Afghanistan, the Town of Natick renamed the street that leads to the installation’s gates, July 10.

“General Greene Avenue” was dedicated in the name of Maj. Gen. Harold J. “Harry” Greene, who died Aug. 5, 2014, at age 55. At the time of his death, he was deputy commander of the Combined Security Transition Command.

Greene became the highest-ranking U.S. officer killed on foreign soil during wartime since the Vietnam War. He had served as Natick’s senior commander from 2009 to 2011.

The dedication ceremony was attended by his widow, Dr. Susan Myers, children Army 1st Lt. Matthew Greene and Amelia Greene, daughter-in-law Kasandra Greene, father Harold F. Greene, and brothers Jon Greene and Steve Greene. The ceremony featured the unveiling of the street sign on the corner of North Main Street and the former Kansas Street.

Myers said that Greene loved Natick not just because he was a Massachusetts native and the state was home to his favorite teams, but because the installation’s mission was so important.

“I especially loved Harry’s gift of translating complex ideas so that everyone could understand what needed to be done and then encouraging us to do and be our best,” Myers said. “Many of you know how he loved to make this tough work fun but also ensure that we planned for the future, such as getting resources to improve facilities, to recognize people for their excellence, and to thank us for supporting him.”

After the dedication, a “Soldier’s Cross” – consisting of a bronze helmet, inverted rifle with bayonet, and combat boots – was revealed near the NSSC main gate. The memorial to Greene was funded by Hanscom Federal Credit Union, and the Natick Veterans Relief Fund donated the benches placed near it. The memorial bears a plaque that includes Greene’s name, dates of his birth and death, the years of his command at Natick, and this inscription: “A Soldier’s Soldier who truly served his Nation with honor.”

The dedication of General Greene Avenue marked the end of a year-long, $2.5 million project to improve the roadway. The collaborative effort involved the Town of Natick, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and NSSC.

Josh Ostroff, of the Natick Board of Selectmen, called it a “worthy endeavor,” noting that the man for whom the avenue is named “encouraged collaboration and teamwork. He loved his country and he used his unique skills as an engineer, a communicator, a team builder and a leader to serve the nation, and that was the hallmark of his career and of his time leading this base.”

Ostroff also read letters from U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, and U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts.

Massachusetts State Senate and House of Representatives resolutions were read by Sen. Richard J. Ross and Sen. Karen E Spilka, and Rep. David Linsky, respectively.

Maj. Gen. Scott Rice, the adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard, attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with Greene. He related a piece of advice that Greene was fond of sharing.

“He said, ‘Everything you do – everything – is about people,'” Rice recalled. “I thank God for that time that I had with my friend, Harry Greene, and his family.”

Brig. Gen. William Cole, current NSSC senior commander, recalled how Greene was once his boss and how he would rise early one day each week for a video teleconference with Cole, who was in Afghanistan.

“I loved working for Gen. Greene,” Cole said. “He always helped me solve problems and meet challenges. Whenever we spoke, he gave me 100 percent of his attention and shared smart advice that came not only from his head, but also from his heart.

“He was a universally admired leader. I thank God for having put Gen. Greene in our lives, and I ask that we all do our best to exemplify his legacy of selfless leadership.”

John Harlow, Greene’s public affairs officer at NSSC, remembered the fun-loving side of his former boss. He asked those in attendance to adopt some of Greene’s zest for life.

“Smile a little more often, laugh a little more often, and truly care about the people around you,” Harlow said. “If you do that, there will be a little bit of Gen. Greene in each and every one of you.”

Myers said that Greene loved the people of Natick like they were his family.

“Harry loved the challenge of helping find sustainable and effective solutions to tough problems and was not afraid to tell people what he thought they needed to hear,” said Myers, “even if it was not popular or something we wanted to hear.

“We can do better like Harry did by taking responsibility, accountability and leading by example. Thank you for your dedicated service and for helping us carry Harry’s legacy forward by actively contributing to the betterment of our families, communities, nation and the world.”

Myers joked that Greene was always working on his social skills while at Natick.

“Harry loved to get to know as many of you as possible because he genuinely cared and loved you as he loved his family,” Myers said. “He loved the joke about the extrovert engineer being the one who looked at other people’s shoes instead of his own.”

After the ceremonies, Greene’s son spoke about memories of his father.

“I would remember my father as a very intelligent man,” Matthew said. “He was someone that was probably one of the Army’s leading technological innovators. He liked to shake things up.

“My father was a hard worker, a dedicated Army man. He spent a lot of time on the road, especially as I got older, making sure that he fulfilled his duties to the country. But there was always time and opportunity … for his family.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]