Army Sgt. Allen A. Greka

Died July 13, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

---

29, of Alpena, Mich.; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3d Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Benning, Ga.; died July 13 of wounds sustained from a land mine detonation during a dismounted patrol in Jisr Diyala, Iraq.

---

Fort Benning soldier dies in Iraq after land mine blast

The Associated Press

ALPENA, Mich. — A Michigan soldier stationed at Fort Benning, Ga., and remembered for his professionalism in military service has died of wounds from a land mine detonation during a patrol in Iraq.

Army Sgt. Allen A. Greka, 29, of Alpena, died July 13 after being wounded in Jisr Diyala, the Department of Defense said in a statement July 15. His family learned of his death July 13.

“It’s very hard to deal with, but we’ve been getting a lot of support from everyone in the area,” his father, Steven Greka, told The Alpena News.

Allen Greka and his wife, Jennifer, were married about a year ago. The couple had a 4-month-old daughter, Lilith. Greka also had a 4-year-old stepdaughter, Rose, his father said.

Steven Greka described his son as a very professional soldier who loved what he did and enjoyed reading.

“Anything he read he retained,” Steven Greka said. “He was very intelligent.”

Allen Greka also is survived by his mother, Patti Greka. Funeral arrangements were pending Monday.

Greka was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, at Fort Benning.