3-1 Cavalry Honors Fallen Hero

By Sgt. Natalie Rostek
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

COMBAT OUTPOST CLEARY, Iraq – Soldiers of 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment honored a fallen hero in a memorial service held at Patrol Base Comanche July 18.

Sgt. Allen A. Greka, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, was killed July 13 while on a dismounted patrol.

Friends described Greka, 29, as an all around funny guy who always had a smile on his face. He was an avid musician with a passion for the drums.

Although he was funny and high-spirited, he took his job as a leader seriously and did not wait for his promotion to a noncommissioned officer to take the lead in various missions, according 3-1 Cav. Soldiers.

Soldiers further explained he was also a great husband and father to his wife and two daughters, always talking about them when he wasn’t discussing the mission.

“He was the epitome of a leader and an incredible father and husband,” said Lt. Col. John Kolesheski, squadron commander, 3-1 Cav.

Greka was an extremely hard worker who excelled at his job as a cavalry Soldier and leader, said Capt. Darrel Melton, Troop C commander.

“He was – no, he is one of the best men I have ever served with in my 10 years in the Army,” Melton said. “If you ever wanted anything done, he could and would get it done to the highest of standards.”

Melton said Greka had many friends in the unit and cared deeply for any and every Soldier who served over, with, and under him regardless of who they were.

“In order to fully understand and appreciate our love for Sgt. Greka, let me start from the beginning,” said 1st Lt. Ross Pixler, Greka’s platoon leader.

Pixler told multiple stories of his encounters with Greka. They were mostly humorous accounts detailing numerous occasions when he would approach Greka at the most inopportune times.

“There is not one man in this platoon who could say he didn’t make them laugh at his expense,” Pixler told the audience. “I feel honored to have shared, in a small way, a portion of his life.”

The final comments from those who knew him best came from Spc. Randy Leverett, a Soldier who served under Greka.

“He was a friend who will be remembered,” Leverett said. “To Comanche Troop, Sgt. Greka will always be with us on missions until we go home.”

Greka, of Alpena, Mich., was assigned to the Georgia based 3rd Brigade Combat Team’s (Heavy) Troop C, 3-1 Cav. as a team leader. The 3rd HBCT is part of the 3rd Infantry Division out of Fort Benning. Greka is survived by his mother and father, Patti and Steve Greka, his wife, Jennifer, and his daughters, Rose and Lilith.