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August 13, 2012 - Hospitalman Zachary D. Greenberg is currently
deployed to Afghanistan with 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, Regimental
Combat Team 6. The Woodenville, Wash., native's family has a rich
history in the Navy. A great grandfather, grandfather, uncle and a
brother have all taken the oath of service before him. Photo by USMC
Cpl. Anthony Ward Jr.
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Afghanistan (8/23/2012) - With a deep-rooted family history of
service in the Navy, Hospitalman Zachary D. Greenberg chose to
continue to follow that tradition.
The 21-year-old from
Woodenville, Wash., made his decision to join a year ago.
My
brother was in Afghanistan in 2010, and before he came home I had
already been talking to the recruiter,” said Greenberg. “I joined
because I wanted to serve like my brother, and I thought the
military would be a good fit for me.”
Greenberg's Navy roots
extend deep into his family tree. His grandfather and an uncle were
both sailors too.
“My Grandpa Bob was a telephonic radio
communications 2nd class in the 1950s,” said Greenberg. “He served
on a carrier for a deployment. My Uncle Morris, he was an
electrician's mate. He served for six to seven years.” |
Greenberg, a third generation sailor, has yet to serve on a ship,
which is a running joke with his grandfather. “My grandpa was a
sailor of the seas and I'm a sailor of the sand,” laughed Greenberg.
With such a deep family history in the Navy, it is no
wonder why the “sailor of the sand” joined up. He said he
remembers fondly the day his Grandpa Bob saw his in uniform.
“He almost teared up a bit when I first came home in my
dress blues. I've never seen him act that way about anything
before,” said Greenberg.
Greenberg made it through
all the courses and schools he needed to become a hospital
corpsman and to provide Marines and sailors with the care
they need.
Finishing as one of the highest graduates
in his class, he was offered orders to anywhere in the world
and chose to serve with the Marines.
He received
orders to 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. He is
now deployed with the unit in Helmand province, Afghanistan
as part of Regimental Combat Team 6.
“ (My parents)
weren't too ecstatic about my orders to go to 1st Marine
Division,” he said. “I'm a good corpsman, and I just felt
Marines deserve good corpsmen.
“I'm not doing it for
the glory or anything,” said Greenberg. “I just want to make
sure I'm there for my guys when they need me because they're
my guys. I just want to do my job and know I did it well.”
By USMC Cpl. Anthony Ward Jr.
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2012
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