National Infantry Museum presenting prestigious award Friday | Events

FORT BENNING, GA - The National Infantry Foundation will present the Order of St. Maurice to Mr. Maurice “Hank” Greenberg in a ceremony at the National Infantry Museum Friday, Jan.11 at 11:30 a.m.

The prestigious OSM is awarded to those who have served the Infantry community with distinction, demonstrated a significant contribution in support of the Infantry, and represented the highest standards of integrity, moral character, professional competence, and dedication to duty.

In 1942, at age 17, Mr. Greenberg was so determined to serve in the U.S. Army, he lied about his age to enrollment officers. On D-Day, his communications unit, attached to the Rangers, was scheduled to land at Omaha Beach a few hours after the initial wave, but fierce fighting forced a redirection to another landing spot.

Circumstances in Normandy turned Greenberg into a rifleman. His unit fought its way across Europe, winding up in Dachau, Germany, just a day after the concentration camp was liberated. The horrors he saw there and the lessons he learned in combat served him the rest of his life.

After the war, Greenberg got a GED, a bachelors’ degree and a law degree. When the Korean War broke out, he’d hoped to use his new skills behind the front line, but he ended up fighting as an Infantryman during part of his tour. The young captain’s actions earned him a Bronze Star.

Although Greenberg’s experiences in the Army were life-shaping, he has been reluctant to talk about them in depth with anyone but closest friends.

In 1952, Greenberg got his first job in the insurance industry. He became Continental Casualty’s youngest vice president at the age of 34. A short time later, competitor Cornelius Vander Starr stole him away and Greenberg spent the rest of his career at American International Group (AIG). He succeeded Vander Starr as chairman in 1968 and continued in that role until 2005. During his tenure there, AIG was the world's 18th largest public company and the world’s largest insurance and financial services corporation.

Today, Greenberg is chairman of the Starr Foundation, overseeing the disbursement of major financial support to academic, medical, cultural, and public policy institutions.

Presenting the Order of St. Maurice to Mr. Greenberg will be GEN (Ret) Barry McCaffrey, vice chairman of the National Infantry Foundation Advisory Board. Also taking part in the ceremony are GEN (Ret) Ed Burba and GEN (Ret) Bill Richardson, both members of the Advisory Board’s Executive Committee, Maneuver Center of Excellence Commanding General MG H.R. McMaster, National Infantry Foundation Chairman LTG (Ret) Carmen Cavezza and Infantry School Commandant COL (P) David Haight.