MAJ (Ret.) Thomas Harter Greer aka: Dalton Fury, age 52, of Rhine, GA, died Friday, October 21, 2016, at his residence.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Monday, October 24, at Sand Grove Baptist Church with Reverend Joey Bohannon, Reverend Danny Gay, LTG Scott Miller, CSM (Ret.) Greg Birch and MSG (Ret.) Max Mullen officiating. Interment will follow in Sand Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.
Major Greer retired in February 2005 after more than twenty years in the US Army. He served fifteen years in special operations units, as both a non-commissioned and commissioned officer. Most notably, he served as an instructor at the US Army Ranger School, eight years in the 75th Ranger Regiment, and five years as an operational member of Delta Force.
Major Greer spent 22 months in three separate hostile fire zones and was twice decorated for valor for combat actions in Afghanistan. He hunted war criminals in the Balkans, was the assault force commander on numerous direct action raids against Al Qaeda and Taliban personalities in Afghanistan, and participated in the hunt for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq. In all three hot spots, Tom operated with intelligence analysts and operatives from the CIA and worked extensively with foreign allied special operations forces and Navy SEALs during Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
Following retirement, Major Greer served as the Senior Army Instructor for the Army JROTC program at Dodge County High School for one year. He then worked in the Nuclear Security industry for the next 10 years. His expertise has strengthened the security of all sixty Nuclear Power plants in America. He also served as chief military consultant for Sledgehammer Games during the making of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 and Advanced Warfare.
Tom is also a New York Times Best Selling author. His first book, Kill Bin Laden, was the true account of his experiences as the senior special operations ground force commander during the hunt for Osama Bin Laden in the Tora Bora mountains of Afghanistan in November 2001. The proceeds from this publication were donated to Special Operations Warrior Foundation, an organization that ensures surviving family members of our nation's dedicated special operators can pursue their dreams through higher education. He went on to author a series of Delta Force thrillers under the pen name, Dalton Fury. He was also owner and operator of DF Customs, LLC.
Tom graduated from Mount Vernon HS in Alexandria, Virginia in 1982. He earned a BS in History from Columbus College and a MA in Homeland Security with a concentration in Terrorism Studies from American Military University.
His proudest achievement in life was his relationship with Jesus Christ and being “daddy” to his two wonderful daughters. Tom was a member of Sand Grove Baptist Church.
Tom was the son of the late LTC (Ret.) Robert H. Greer and the late Peggy Daugherty Greer. He is the son-in-law of the late Mr. and Mrs. L.A. Watkins. Survivors include his wife of 26 years, Deidre W. Greer, his two daughters, Caitlin and Claire, his brother, CSM (Ret.) Steven (Jennifer) Greer, his aunt, Patricia G. (Jerry) Miller of Uniontown, OH, and uncles, Mike Greer of N Canton, OH and Oscar Stuckey of Cordele, GA. He was also survived by sister-in-law Pam (Tony) Knowles, brothers-in-law Tim (Brenda) Watkins, Mike (Elaine) Watkins, and Terry (Donna) Watkins, and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family may be contacted at the Greer residence, 317 Walker Road, Milan, GA and will receive friends in the Southerland Funeral Chapel from 5:00PM-7:00PM Sunday, October 23. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Task Force Dagger Foundation, 5900 South Lake Forest Drive, Suite 200, McKinney, TX 75070
∼"Thomas Greer, the former special operations commander who wrote a series of books under the pen name "Dalton Fury" and exposed the American public firsthand to the modern exploits of the military's most secretive units, died last week from cancer."
"Starting as an enlisted soldier and instructor in the elite Army Rangers in the mid-1980s before becoming an officer, Greer later joining U.S. Army Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta, more commonly known as "Delta Force," the Army's version of SEAL Team Six. He published "Kill Bin Laden" in 2008, recounting his participation in the unsuccessful 2001 mission to capture elusive terrorist leader Osama bin Laden when he was holed up in the Tora Bora mountains of Afghanistan. He went on to write a series of other books, including a fictionalized account of special forces operations."
Killeen, TX veterans cemetery.
∼U.S. News & World Report
Thomas Greer, aka 'Dalton Fury,' Elite Commando-Turned Author Dies
The former Delta Force commander who wrote 'Kill Bin Laden' helped set a trend that remains under scrutiny today.
By Paul D. Shinkman, Senior National Security Writer Oct. 25, 2016, at 2:25 p.m.
Thomas Greer, the former special operations commander who wrote a series of books under the pen name "Dalton Fury" and exposed the American public firsthand to the modern exploits of the military's most secretive units, died last week from cancer.
Starting as an enlisted soldier and instructor in the elite Army Rangers in the mid-1980s before becoming an officer, Greer later joining U.S. Army Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta, more commonly known as "Delta Force," the Army's version of SEAL Team Six. He published "Kill Bin Laden" in 2008, recounting his participation in the unsuccessful 2001 mission to capture elusive terrorist leader Osama bin Laden when he was holed up in the Tora Bora mountains of Afghanistan. He went on to write a series of other books, including a fictionalized account of special forces operations.
Greer, 52, was perhaps the first in what has become a long series of shadowy warriors-turned-authors who traded their rifles for pens to meet the public's growing enthusiasm for details on the government's most classified missions. Civilian leaders and military planners increasingly rely on these elite commandos to accomplish secret missions in modern war zones, creating tension between those willing to tell the story and others who choose to uphold their pledge to secrecy.
"Every one of us was dubbed persona non grata by our former organization," Greer told U.S. News in 2015. "To some, that doesn't mean squat. To others, it can be pretty painful as you lose a lot of close friends."
He spoke shortly after Matt Bissonnette, one of the SEALs who contributed to the 2011 mission that killed bin Laden, came under formal Pentagon inquiry for writing his own book, "No Easy Day," as did Robert O'Neill, another of the SEALs on that mission, who revealed himself on Fox News and claimed he fired the shot that killed the al-Qaida leader.
Their actions prompted top SEAL leaders to write a letter to those within their ranks, admonishing those who break from what they described as the "critical tenet of our ethos," to not advertise the nature of their work or seek recognition for it.
"We do not abide willful or selfish disregard for our core values in return for public notoriety or financial gain," Navy Rear Adm. Brian Losey and Force Master Chief Michael Magaraci wrote at the time.
Both Bissonnette and O'Neill claimed they chose to tell their stories for the sake of the American public.
"It was UBL, the biggest target of our generation," Greer explained at the time, using the military's prefered acronym for bin Laden, and referencing the fact that the White House confirmed reports the SEAL unit had conducted the assault. "Once the gates were opened by the Obama administration, I believe both Biss and Rob decided to make their claim to history while it was still marketable."
The greatest source of criticism for the former commandos centered on their decision not to seek approval through established channels at the Department of Defense for discussing classified information. Greer submitted copies of his proposed books for review, as most others like him do, and any information the Pentagon deemed sensitive was either changed or stricken.
Others who knew Greer say he was at least in part inspired to write his own book by a perceived barrier between the general public and the less than 1 percent of them who fought the seemingly never-ending wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"It brings a lot of pride to the American people, especially in times that are needed," says Jim Reese, founder of security consulting firm TigerSwan who served with Greer in both the Rangers and Delta as a fellow officer. "You've got this organization that is in the shadows, and part of it should be. But this is the New York Yankees. What Tom was able to do with both his books and his fiction books was to bring the reality to Middle America, to let Americans be proud of this small element of Americans that are doing these things in the shadows in the middle of the night."
"Tom just had the intestinal fortitude to do it," Reese says.
He describes Greer as an approachable officer, particularly with younger enlisted soldiers, due in part to his background, and a meticulous planner. Both of their entrees into Delta marked a shift for the unit toward recruiting more from the Ranger Regiment – which commands the Army's most aggressive and by-the-book infantry units – in addition to U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers, the "Green Berets," traditionally tasked with raising foreign guerrilla armies and known for more creative and subtle thinking.
"He felt that his story needed to get out," Reese says. "He researched, he was meticulous in doing it the right way. He asked questions, he read the regulations, which I would tell you shows the hypocrisy in our system. He did it the right way, he asked permission, he got everything reviewed, and he still got [persona non grata]."
"We need our younger generation to see what guys like Tom Greer are doing to emulate them."
"Kill Bin Laden" was released months before another Delta commander, Pete Blaber, released his own memoir, "The Mission, the Men, and Me."
Greer, who lived in Georgia and later worked as a consultant on securing U.S. nuclear facilities, died Friday of pancreatic cancer he had been battling for weeks. His family hosted a memorial service Sunday and a funeral Monday, attended by former colleagues and active duty Rangers, according to a Facebook page set up in his honor.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Monday, October 24, at Sand Grove Baptist Church with Reverend Joey Bohannon, Reverend Danny Gay, LTG Scott Miller, CSM (Ret.) Greg Birch and MSG (Ret.) Max Mullen officiating. Interment will follow in Sand Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.
Major Greer retired in February 2005 after more than twenty years in the US Army. He served fifteen years in special operations units, as both a non-commissioned and commissioned officer. Most notably, he served as an instructor at the US Army Ranger School, eight years in the 75th Ranger Regiment, and five years as an operational member of Delta Force.
Major Greer spent 22 months in three separate hostile fire zones and was twice decorated for valor for combat actions in Afghanistan. He hunted war criminals in the Balkans, was the assault force commander on numerous direct action raids against Al Qaeda and Taliban personalities in Afghanistan, and participated in the hunt for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq. In all three hot spots, Tom operated with intelligence analysts and operatives from the CIA and worked extensively with foreign allied special operations forces and Navy SEALs during Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
Following retirement, Major Greer served as the Senior Army Instructor for the Army JROTC program at Dodge County High School for one year. He then worked in the Nuclear Security industry for the next 10 years. His expertise has strengthened the security of all sixty Nuclear Power plants in America. He also served as chief military consultant for Sledgehammer Games during the making of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 and Advanced Warfare.
Tom is also a New York Times Best Selling author. His first book, Kill Bin Laden, was the true account of his experiences as the senior special operations ground force commander during the hunt for Osama Bin Laden in the Tora Bora mountains of Afghanistan in November 2001. The proceeds from this publication were donated to Special Operations Warrior Foundation, an organization that ensures surviving family members of our nation's dedicated special operators can pursue their dreams through higher education. He went on to author a series of Delta Force thrillers under the pen name, Dalton Fury. He was also owner and operator of DF Customs, LLC.
Tom graduated from Mount Vernon HS in Alexandria, Virginia in 1982. He earned a BS in History from Columbus College and a MA in Homeland Security with a concentration in Terrorism Studies from American Military University.
His proudest achievement in life was his relationship with Jesus Christ and being “daddy” to his two wonderful daughters. Tom was a member of Sand Grove Baptist Church.
Tom was the son of the late LTC (Ret.) Robert H. Greer and the late Peggy Daugherty Greer. He is the son-in-law of the late Mr. and Mrs. L.A. Watkins. Survivors include his wife of 26 years, Deidre W. Greer, his two daughters, Caitlin and Claire, his brother, CSM (Ret.) Steven (Jennifer) Greer, his aunt, Patricia G. (Jerry) Miller of Uniontown, OH, and uncles, Mike Greer of N Canton, OH and Oscar Stuckey of Cordele, GA. He was also survived by sister-in-law Pam (Tony) Knowles, brothers-in-law Tim (Brenda) Watkins, Mike (Elaine) Watkins, and Terry (Donna) Watkins, and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family may be contacted at the Greer residence, 317 Walker Road, Milan, GA and will receive friends in the Southerland Funeral Chapel from 5:00PM-7:00PM Sunday, October 23. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Task Force Dagger Foundation, 5900 South Lake Forest Drive, Suite 200, McKinney, TX 75070
∼"Thomas Greer, the former special operations commander who wrote a series of books under the pen name "Dalton Fury" and exposed the American public firsthand to the modern exploits of the military's most secretive units, died last week from cancer."
"Starting as an enlisted soldier and instructor in the elite Army Rangers in the mid-1980s before becoming an officer, Greer later joining U.S. Army Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta, more commonly known as "Delta Force," the Army's version of SEAL Team Six. He published "Kill Bin Laden" in 2008, recounting his participation in the unsuccessful 2001 mission to capture elusive terrorist leader Osama bin Laden when he was holed up in the Tora Bora mountains of Afghanistan. He went on to write a series of other books, including a fictionalized account of special forces operations."
Killeen, TX veterans cemetery.
∼U.S. News & World Report
Thomas Greer, aka 'Dalton Fury,' Elite Commando-Turned Author Dies
The former Delta Force commander who wrote 'Kill Bin Laden' helped set a trend that remains under scrutiny today.
By Paul D. Shinkman, Senior National Security Writer Oct. 25, 2016, at 2:25 p.m.
Thomas Greer, the former special operations commander who wrote a series of books under the pen name "Dalton Fury" and exposed the American public firsthand to the modern exploits of the military's most secretive units, died last week from cancer.
Starting as an enlisted soldier and instructor in the elite Army Rangers in the mid-1980s before becoming an officer, Greer later joining U.S. Army Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta, more commonly known as "Delta Force," the Army's version of SEAL Team Six. He published "Kill Bin Laden" in 2008, recounting his participation in the unsuccessful 2001 mission to capture elusive terrorist leader Osama bin Laden when he was holed up in the Tora Bora mountains of Afghanistan. He went on to write a series of other books, including a fictionalized account of special forces operations.
Greer, 52, was perhaps the first in what has become a long series of shadowy warriors-turned-authors who traded their rifles for pens to meet the public's growing enthusiasm for details on the government's most classified missions. Civilian leaders and military planners increasingly rely on these elite commandos to accomplish secret missions in modern war zones, creating tension between those willing to tell the story and others who choose to uphold their pledge to secrecy.
"Every one of us was dubbed persona non grata by our former organization," Greer told U.S. News in 2015. "To some, that doesn't mean squat. To others, it can be pretty painful as you lose a lot of close friends."
He spoke shortly after Matt Bissonnette, one of the SEALs who contributed to the 2011 mission that killed bin Laden, came under formal Pentagon inquiry for writing his own book, "No Easy Day," as did Robert O'Neill, another of the SEALs on that mission, who revealed himself on Fox News and claimed he fired the shot that killed the al-Qaida leader.
Their actions prompted top SEAL leaders to write a letter to those within their ranks, admonishing those who break from what they described as the "critical tenet of our ethos," to not advertise the nature of their work or seek recognition for it.
"We do not abide willful or selfish disregard for our core values in return for public notoriety or financial gain," Navy Rear Adm. Brian Losey and Force Master Chief Michael Magaraci wrote at the time.
Both Bissonnette and O'Neill claimed they chose to tell their stories for the sake of the American public.
"It was UBL, the biggest target of our generation," Greer explained at the time, using the military's prefered acronym for bin Laden, and referencing the fact that the White House confirmed reports the SEAL unit had conducted the assault. "Once the gates were opened by the Obama administration, I believe both Biss and Rob decided to make their claim to history while it was still marketable."
The greatest source of criticism for the former commandos centered on their decision not to seek approval through established channels at the Department of Defense for discussing classified information. Greer submitted copies of his proposed books for review, as most others like him do, and any information the Pentagon deemed sensitive was either changed or stricken.
Others who knew Greer say he was at least in part inspired to write his own book by a perceived barrier between the general public and the less than 1 percent of them who fought the seemingly never-ending wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"It brings a lot of pride to the American people, especially in times that are needed," says Jim Reese, founder of security consulting firm TigerSwan who served with Greer in both the Rangers and Delta as a fellow officer. "You've got this organization that is in the shadows, and part of it should be. But this is the New York Yankees. What Tom was able to do with both his books and his fiction books was to bring the reality to Middle America, to let Americans be proud of this small element of Americans that are doing these things in the shadows in the middle of the night."
"Tom just had the intestinal fortitude to do it," Reese says.
He describes Greer as an approachable officer, particularly with younger enlisted soldiers, due in part to his background, and a meticulous planner. Both of their entrees into Delta marked a shift for the unit toward recruiting more from the Ranger Regiment – which commands the Army's most aggressive and by-the-book infantry units – in addition to U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers, the "Green Berets," traditionally tasked with raising foreign guerrilla armies and known for more creative and subtle thinking.
"He felt that his story needed to get out," Reese says. "He researched, he was meticulous in doing it the right way. He asked questions, he read the regulations, which I would tell you shows the hypocrisy in our system. He did it the right way, he asked permission, he got everything reviewed, and he still got [persona non grata]."
"We need our younger generation to see what guys like Tom Greer are doing to emulate them."
"Kill Bin Laden" was released months before another Delta commander, Pete Blaber, released his own memoir, "The Mission, the Men, and Me."
Greer, who lived in Georgia and later worked as a consultant on securing U.S. nuclear facilities, died Friday of pancreatic cancer he had been battling for weeks. His family hosted a memorial service Sunday and a funeral Monday, attended by former colleagues and active duty Rangers, according to a Facebook page set up in his honor.
MAJ (Ret.) Thomas Harter Greer aka: Dalton Fury, age 52, of Rhine, GA, died Friday, October 21, 2016, at his residence.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Monday, October 24, at Sand Grove Baptist Church with Reverend Joey Bohannon, Reverend Danny Gay, LTG Scott Miller, CSM (Ret.) Greg Birch and MSG (Ret.) Max Mullen officiating. Interment will follow in Sand Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.
Major Greer retired in February 2005 after more than twenty years in the US Army. He served fifteen years in special operations units, as both a non-commissioned and commissioned officer. Most notably, he served as an instructor at the US Army Ranger School, eight years in the 75th Ranger Regiment, and five years as an operational member of Delta Force.
Major Greer spent 22 months in three separate hostile fire zones and was twice decorated for valor for combat actions in Afghanistan. He hunted war criminals in the Balkans, was the assault force commander on numerous direct action raids against Al Qaeda and Taliban personalities in Afghanistan, and participated in the hunt for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq. In all three hot spots, Tom operated with intelligence analysts and operatives from the CIA and worked extensively with foreign allied special operations forces and Navy SEALs during Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
Following retirement, Major Greer served as the Senior Army Instructor for the Army JROTC program at Dodge County High School for one year. He then worked in the Nuclear Security industry for the next 10 years. His expertise has strengthened the security of all sixty Nuclear Power plants in America. He also served as chief military consultant for Sledgehammer Games during the making of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 and Advanced Warfare.
Tom is also a New York Times Best Selling author. His first book, Kill Bin Laden, was the true account of his experiences as the senior special operations ground force commander during the hunt for Osama Bin Laden in the Tora Bora mountains of Afghanistan in November 2001. The proceeds from this publication were donated to Special Operations Warrior Foundation, an organization that ensures surviving family members of our nation's dedicated special operators can pursue their dreams through higher education. He went on to author a series of Delta Force thrillers under the pen name, Dalton Fury. He was also owner and operator of DF Customs, LLC.
Tom graduated from Mount Vernon HS in Alexandria, Virginia in 1982. He earned a BS in History from Columbus College and a MA in Homeland Security with a concentration in Terrorism Studies from American Military University.
His proudest achievement in life was his relationship with Jesus Christ and being “daddy” to his two wonderful daughters. Tom was a member of Sand Grove Baptist Church.
Tom was the son of the late LTC (Ret.) Robert H. Greer and the late Peggy Daugherty Greer. He is the son-in-law of the late Mr. and Mrs. L.A. Watkins. Survivors include his wife of 26 years, Deidre W. Greer, his two daughters, Caitlin and Claire, his brother, CSM (Ret.) Steven (Jennifer) Greer, his aunt, Patricia G. (Jerry) Miller of Uniontown, OH, and uncles, Mike Greer of N Canton, OH and Oscar Stuckey of Cordele, GA. He was also survived by sister-in-law Pam (Tony) Knowles, brothers-in-law Tim (Brenda) Watkins, Mike (Elaine) Watkins, and Terry (Donna) Watkins, and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family may be contacted at the Greer residence, 317 Walker Road, Milan, GA and will receive friends in the Southerland Funeral Chapel from 5:00PM-7:00PM Sunday, October 23. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Task Force Dagger Foundation, 5900 South Lake Forest Drive, Suite 200, McKinney, TX 75070
∼"Thomas Greer, the former special operations commander who wrote a series of books under the pen name "Dalton Fury" and exposed the American public firsthand to the modern exploits of the military's most secretive units, died last week from cancer."
"Starting as an enlisted soldier and instructor in the elite Army Rangers in the mid-1980s before becoming an officer, Greer later joining U.S. Army Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta, more commonly known as "Delta Force," the Army's version of SEAL Team Six. He published "Kill Bin Laden" in 2008, recounting his participation in the unsuccessful 2001 mission to capture elusive terrorist leader Osama bin Laden when he was holed up in the Tora Bora mountains of Afghanistan. He went on to write a series of other books, including a fictionalized account of special forces operations."
Killeen, TX veterans cemetery.
∼U.S. News & World Report
Thomas Greer, aka 'Dalton Fury,' Elite Commando-Turned Author Dies
The former Delta Force commander who wrote 'Kill Bin Laden' helped set a trend that remains under scrutiny today.
By Paul D. Shinkman, Senior National Security Writer Oct. 25, 2016, at 2:25 p.m.
Thomas Greer, the former special operations commander who wrote a series of books under the pen name "Dalton Fury" and exposed the American public firsthand to the modern exploits of the military's most secretive units, died last week from cancer.
Starting as an enlisted soldier and instructor in the elite Army Rangers in the mid-1980s before becoming an officer, Greer later joining U.S. Army Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta, more commonly known as "Delta Force," the Army's version of SEAL Team Six. He published "Kill Bin Laden" in 2008, recounting his participation in the unsuccessful 2001 mission to capture elusive terrorist leader Osama bin Laden when he was holed up in the Tora Bora mountains of Afghanistan. He went on to write a series of other books, including a fictionalized account of special forces operations.
Greer, 52, was perhaps the first in what has become a long series of shadowy warriors-turned-authors who traded their rifles for pens to meet the public's growing enthusiasm for details on the government's most classified missions. Civilian leaders and military planners increasingly rely on these elite commandos to accomplish secret missions in modern war zones, creating tension between those willing to tell the story and others who choose to uphold their pledge to secrecy.
"Every one of us was dubbed persona non grata by our former organization," Greer told U.S. News in 2015. "To some, that doesn't mean squat. To others, it can be pretty painful as you lose a lot of close friends."
He spoke shortly after Matt Bissonnette, one of the SEALs who contributed to the 2011 mission that killed bin Laden, came under formal Pentagon inquiry for writing his own book, "No Easy Day," as did Robert O'Neill, another of the SEALs on that mission, who revealed himself on Fox News and claimed he fired the shot that killed the al-Qaida leader.
Their actions prompted top SEAL leaders to write a letter to those within their ranks, admonishing those who break from what they described as the "critical tenet of our ethos," to not advertise the nature of their work or seek recognition for it.
"We do not abide willful or selfish disregard for our core values in return for public notoriety or financial gain," Navy Rear Adm. Brian Losey and Force Master Chief Michael Magaraci wrote at the time.
Both Bissonnette and O'Neill claimed they chose to tell their stories for the sake of the American public.
"It was UBL, the biggest target of our generation," Greer explained at the time, using the military's prefered acronym for bin Laden, and referencing the fact that the White House confirmed reports the SEAL unit had conducted the assault. "Once the gates were opened by the Obama administration, I believe both Biss and Rob decided to make their claim to history while it was still marketable."
The greatest source of criticism for the former commandos centered on their decision not to seek approval through established channels at the Department of Defense for discussing classified information. Greer submitted copies of his proposed books for review, as most others like him do, and any information the Pentagon deemed sensitive was either changed or stricken.
Others who knew Greer say he was at least in part inspired to write his own book by a perceived barrier between the general public and the less than 1 percent of them who fought the seemingly never-ending wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"It brings a lot of pride to the American people, especially in times that are needed," says Jim Reese, founder of security consulting firm TigerSwan who served with Greer in both the Rangers and Delta as a fellow officer. "You've got this organization that is in the shadows, and part of it should be. But this is the New York Yankees. What Tom was able to do with both his books and his fiction books was to bring the reality to Middle America, to let Americans be proud of this small element of Americans that are doing these things in the shadows in the middle of the night."
"Tom just had the intestinal fortitude to do it," Reese says.
He describes Greer as an approachable officer, particularly with younger enlisted soldiers, due in part to his background, and a meticulous planner. Both of their entrees into Delta marked a shift for the unit toward recruiting more from the Ranger Regiment – which commands the Army's most aggressive and by-the-book infantry units – in addition to U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers, the "Green Berets," traditionally tasked with raising foreign guerrilla armies and known for more creative and subtle thinking.
"He felt that his story needed to get out," Reese says. "He researched, he was meticulous in doing it the right way. He asked questions, he read the regulations, which I would tell you shows the hypocrisy in our system. He did it the right way, he asked permission, he got everything reviewed, and he still got [persona non grata]."
"We need our younger generation to see what guys like Tom Greer are doing to emulate them."
"Kill Bin Laden" was released months before another Delta commander, Pete Blaber, released his own memoir, "The Mission, the Men, and Me."
Greer, who lived in Georgia and later worked as a consultant on securing U.S. nuclear facilities, died Friday of pancreatic cancer he had been battling for weeks. His family hosted a memorial service Sunday and a funeral Monday, attended by former colleagues and active duty Rangers, according to a Facebook page set up in his honor.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Monday, October 24, at Sand Grove Baptist Church with Reverend Joey Bohannon, Reverend Danny Gay, LTG Scott Miller, CSM (Ret.) Greg Birch and MSG (Ret.) Max Mullen officiating. Interment will follow in Sand Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.
Major Greer retired in February 2005 after more than twenty years in the US Army. He served fifteen years in special operations units, as both a non-commissioned and commissioned officer. Most notably, he served as an instructor at the US Army Ranger School, eight years in the 75th Ranger Regiment, and five years as an operational member of Delta Force.
Major Greer spent 22 months in three separate hostile fire zones and was twice decorated for valor for combat actions in Afghanistan. He hunted war criminals in the Balkans, was the assault force commander on numerous direct action raids against Al Qaeda and Taliban personalities in Afghanistan, and participated in the hunt for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq. In all three hot spots, Tom operated with intelligence analysts and operatives from the CIA and worked extensively with foreign allied special operations forces and Navy SEALs during Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
Following retirement, Major Greer served as the Senior Army Instructor for the Army JROTC program at Dodge County High School for one year. He then worked in the Nuclear Security industry for the next 10 years. His expertise has strengthened the security of all sixty Nuclear Power plants in America. He also served as chief military consultant for Sledgehammer Games during the making of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 and Advanced Warfare.
Tom is also a New York Times Best Selling author. His first book, Kill Bin Laden, was the true account of his experiences as the senior special operations ground force commander during the hunt for Osama Bin Laden in the Tora Bora mountains of Afghanistan in November 2001. The proceeds from this publication were donated to Special Operations Warrior Foundation, an organization that ensures surviving family members of our nation's dedicated special operators can pursue their dreams through higher education. He went on to author a series of Delta Force thrillers under the pen name, Dalton Fury. He was also owner and operator of DF Customs, LLC.
Tom graduated from Mount Vernon HS in Alexandria, Virginia in 1982. He earned a BS in History from Columbus College and a MA in Homeland Security with a concentration in Terrorism Studies from American Military University.
His proudest achievement in life was his relationship with Jesus Christ and being “daddy” to his two wonderful daughters. Tom was a member of Sand Grove Baptist Church.
Tom was the son of the late LTC (Ret.) Robert H. Greer and the late Peggy Daugherty Greer. He is the son-in-law of the late Mr. and Mrs. L.A. Watkins. Survivors include his wife of 26 years, Deidre W. Greer, his two daughters, Caitlin and Claire, his brother, CSM (Ret.) Steven (Jennifer) Greer, his aunt, Patricia G. (Jerry) Miller of Uniontown, OH, and uncles, Mike Greer of N Canton, OH and Oscar Stuckey of Cordele, GA. He was also survived by sister-in-law Pam (Tony) Knowles, brothers-in-law Tim (Brenda) Watkins, Mike (Elaine) Watkins, and Terry (Donna) Watkins, and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family may be contacted at the Greer residence, 317 Walker Road, Milan, GA and will receive friends in the Southerland Funeral Chapel from 5:00PM-7:00PM Sunday, October 23. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Task Force Dagger Foundation, 5900 South Lake Forest Drive, Suite 200, McKinney, TX 75070
∼"Thomas Greer, the former special operations commander who wrote a series of books under the pen name "Dalton Fury" and exposed the American public firsthand to the modern exploits of the military's most secretive units, died last week from cancer."
"Starting as an enlisted soldier and instructor in the elite Army Rangers in the mid-1980s before becoming an officer, Greer later joining U.S. Army Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta, more commonly known as "Delta Force," the Army's version of SEAL Team Six. He published "Kill Bin Laden" in 2008, recounting his participation in the unsuccessful 2001 mission to capture elusive terrorist leader Osama bin Laden when he was holed up in the Tora Bora mountains of Afghanistan. He went on to write a series of other books, including a fictionalized account of special forces operations."
Killeen, TX veterans cemetery.
∼U.S. News & World Report
Thomas Greer, aka 'Dalton Fury,' Elite Commando-Turned Author Dies
The former Delta Force commander who wrote 'Kill Bin Laden' helped set a trend that remains under scrutiny today.
By Paul D. Shinkman, Senior National Security Writer Oct. 25, 2016, at 2:25 p.m.
Thomas Greer, the former special operations commander who wrote a series of books under the pen name "Dalton Fury" and exposed the American public firsthand to the modern exploits of the military's most secretive units, died last week from cancer.
Starting as an enlisted soldier and instructor in the elite Army Rangers in the mid-1980s before becoming an officer, Greer later joining U.S. Army Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta, more commonly known as "Delta Force," the Army's version of SEAL Team Six. He published "Kill Bin Laden" in 2008, recounting his participation in the unsuccessful 2001 mission to capture elusive terrorist leader Osama bin Laden when he was holed up in the Tora Bora mountains of Afghanistan. He went on to write a series of other books, including a fictionalized account of special forces operations.
Greer, 52, was perhaps the first in what has become a long series of shadowy warriors-turned-authors who traded their rifles for pens to meet the public's growing enthusiasm for details on the government's most classified missions. Civilian leaders and military planners increasingly rely on these elite commandos to accomplish secret missions in modern war zones, creating tension between those willing to tell the story and others who choose to uphold their pledge to secrecy.
"Every one of us was dubbed persona non grata by our former organization," Greer told U.S. News in 2015. "To some, that doesn't mean squat. To others, it can be pretty painful as you lose a lot of close friends."
He spoke shortly after Matt Bissonnette, one of the SEALs who contributed to the 2011 mission that killed bin Laden, came under formal Pentagon inquiry for writing his own book, "No Easy Day," as did Robert O'Neill, another of the SEALs on that mission, who revealed himself on Fox News and claimed he fired the shot that killed the al-Qaida leader.
Their actions prompted top SEAL leaders to write a letter to those within their ranks, admonishing those who break from what they described as the "critical tenet of our ethos," to not advertise the nature of their work or seek recognition for it.
"We do not abide willful or selfish disregard for our core values in return for public notoriety or financial gain," Navy Rear Adm. Brian Losey and Force Master Chief Michael Magaraci wrote at the time.
Both Bissonnette and O'Neill claimed they chose to tell their stories for the sake of the American public.
"It was UBL, the biggest target of our generation," Greer explained at the time, using the military's prefered acronym for bin Laden, and referencing the fact that the White House confirmed reports the SEAL unit had conducted the assault. "Once the gates were opened by the Obama administration, I believe both Biss and Rob decided to make their claim to history while it was still marketable."
The greatest source of criticism for the former commandos centered on their decision not to seek approval through established channels at the Department of Defense for discussing classified information. Greer submitted copies of his proposed books for review, as most others like him do, and any information the Pentagon deemed sensitive was either changed or stricken.
Others who knew Greer say he was at least in part inspired to write his own book by a perceived barrier between the general public and the less than 1 percent of them who fought the seemingly never-ending wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"It brings a lot of pride to the American people, especially in times that are needed," says Jim Reese, founder of security consulting firm TigerSwan who served with Greer in both the Rangers and Delta as a fellow officer. "You've got this organization that is in the shadows, and part of it should be. But this is the New York Yankees. What Tom was able to do with both his books and his fiction books was to bring the reality to Middle America, to let Americans be proud of this small element of Americans that are doing these things in the shadows in the middle of the night."
"Tom just had the intestinal fortitude to do it," Reese says.
He describes Greer as an approachable officer, particularly with younger enlisted soldiers, due in part to his background, and a meticulous planner. Both of their entrees into Delta marked a shift for the unit toward recruiting more from the Ranger Regiment – which commands the Army's most aggressive and by-the-book infantry units – in addition to U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers, the "Green Berets," traditionally tasked with raising foreign guerrilla armies and known for more creative and subtle thinking.
"He felt that his story needed to get out," Reese says. "He researched, he was meticulous in doing it the right way. He asked questions, he read the regulations, which I would tell you shows the hypocrisy in our system. He did it the right way, he asked permission, he got everything reviewed, and he still got [persona non grata]."
"We need our younger generation to see what guys like Tom Greer are doing to emulate them."
"Kill Bin Laden" was released months before another Delta commander, Pete Blaber, released his own memoir, "The Mission, the Men, and Me."
Greer, who lived in Georgia and later worked as a consultant on securing U.S. nuclear facilities, died Friday of pancreatic cancer he had been battling for weeks. His family hosted a memorial service Sunday and a funeral Monday, attended by former colleagues and active duty Rangers, according to a Facebook page set up in his honor.
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