James W. Greteman

Vietnam War

Jim Greteman was born on August 2, 1937, at Carroll, IA to Leonard and Elizabeth “Bea” (Hoffman) Greteman. Jim grew up in Templeton but graduated from Dowling High School in Des Moines with the class of 1955. He then attended Creighton University in Omaha. He graduated from the American Institute of Embalmers in New York City in 1961. He received his embalmer and funeral director licenses in 1963.

On April 2, 1963, Jim was inducted into the US Army at Omaha, NE with two other Carroll County men. He was immediately sent to Fort Leonard Wood, MO for basic training. After completion, Jim was sent to Fort Lee, VA, for quartermaster training. Activity at Fort Lee related to logistics was ramping up as requirements for the quickly escalating situation in Vietnam unfolded. Jim was assigned as a company clerk within the 94th Quartermaster Battalion. His duties would have included administrative, personnel, procurement, correspondence and a myriad of additional support duties.

Jim spent the remainder of his enlistment at Fort Lee and was discharged with the rank of SP4 (specialist fourth class) on April 1, 1965, as troop levels in Vietnam were increasing. The 94th Quartermaster Battalion was subsequently assigned to the 23rd Infantry Division (Americal) and sent to Vietnam.

Jim returned to Iowa and worked for John B. Turner and Son funeral homes in Cedar Rapids. Jim was married to Joann Blue in Chicago, IL on August 24, 1968. He worked as a funeral director In Cedar Rapids until his death there on March 16, 1976 at age 38. He was buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Templeton.