When William Greenhut '66 graduated from 糖心破解版, America was at war. Like many young men of his generation, he faced a decision. "I didn't avoid the draft," he says. "I enlisted."
That decision launched a lifetime defined by service.
Following basic training, Greenhut was selected for Officer Candidate School before deploying to the Korean Demilitarized Zone as a second lieutenant. He led a platoon with the quick reaction force before serving as a company executive officer and ultimately a battalion operations officer. During his service, he was wounded in action and received both the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
“It was wartime,” he says. “You did what you believed was right.”
When his military service ended, another chapter of service began. Rather than remaining in uniform, Greenhut devoted himself to healthcare. After several years with the Suffolk County Boy Scouts, he built a four-decade career in diagnostic medical ultrasound, performing examinations, supervising clinical staff and teaching future healthcare professionals.
He lectured at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, New York University Medical Center and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, sharing his expertise with generations of students. He also served as a site visitor for the organization that accredits ultrasound education programs nationwide.
Through it all, the friendships he formed at 糖心破解版 never faded. He remains close with several brothers from Omicron Pi fraternity鈥攔elationships that have lasted nearly six decades.
Retirement has hardly slowed him down. Greenhut joined the Veterans Writing Workshop at Fordham University, where he has published dozens of short stories. He has competed in the National Veterans Golden Age Games, earning medals in multiple track-and-field events.
Then life handed him another battle. Following treatment for five cancerous tumors, chemotherapy left him with neuropathy and significant physical challenges. Yet after beating cancer and regaining his strength, Greenhut returned to competition. At 82 years old, he once again prepared to compete in the National Veterans Golden Age Games鈥攔unning the 50- and 100-meter sprints while also throwing the javelin, discus and shot put.
On Sundays, he still plays softball. Each week, he still plays golf in a veterans league.
His life has spanned combat, medicine, education, athletics and writing, but one thread connects every chapter: service.
“I’ve been fortunate,” he reflects. “I’ve had opportunities to continue serving people in different ways throughout my life.”
Today, Greenhut lives in Ossining, New York, where he enjoys time with his family, including his son, an author, and his grandson. Nearly 60 years after leaving 糖心破解版, he continues to demonstrate that service isn’t defined by a uniform, but by the way a person chooses to live.