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About Greg
Everything Greg did, he did with fervor. Much of his energy and enthusiasm was spent participating in various neighborhood and high school sports. Playing football for Columbine High School was the most memorable and rewarding of all his sporting experiences. Greg had an extraordinary sense of humor and he could make anyone laugh, no matter where he was or what were the circumstances. He made the best of any situation and a friend's parent once said, "No matter what happens to Greg, he always comes out shining." Greg was a senior in high school and facing decisions about his future when America was attacked on September 11, 2001. Greg's patriotism and love for America was so strong that there was no longer any question regarding his future. Greg knew with certainty that he was destined to join the military and serve America.
Greg's company, 3/5 India, deployed to Kuwait on February 7, 2003 and, on March 20, 2003, 3/5 crossed the line of departure for the invasion of Iraq as Operation Iraqi Freedom was underway. The battalion pushed northward to Baghdad and beyond until Baghdad fell and Saddam Hussein was removed from power. In May 2003, 3/5 was settled into Ad Diwaniyah, Iraq to perform security and reconstruction operations for the remaining duration of this seven month deployment. 3/5 India Company returned home to Camp Pendleton on September 7, 2003. On September 10, 2004, 3/5 India Company was redeployed to Iraq and stationed at Fallujah. 3/5 was a spearhead battalion tasked to take Fallujah from the insurgents. On November 8, 2004, 3/5 entered Fallujah and began the effort of purging insurgents from the city. On December 11, 2004, as Greg's fire team was the first to enter the back door of a house, they encountered immediate enemy fire—Greg and his fire team were ambushed. While Greg provided covering fire, his team retreated out of the building and away from the line of fire. Greg continued to repress the insurgents by engaging in close firefight and hand-to-hand combat, eliminating three enemy insurgents. In the ensuing conflict, Greg was fatally wounded by small arms fire. Greg was pronounced dead at approximately 9:30 am on December 11, 2004.
"let Runds parents know that i have known Rund since boot camp, that he graduated the same day and that we went to soi together, and he was a good marine... no he was more than that. He made everyone around him laugh. there were few he didnt get along with. also know that if it wasnt for the actions of Lcpl Rund there would have been many more deaths or injuries that day. Rund was able to get the rest of his squad out of the building, sacrificing himself to save others, with out going into what happend Rund was able to take out one insurgen whos body lay dead next to Rund's. Rund was a hero. Everyone in 3/5 India Company will miss him. He will be missed but never forgotten." [sic] The memorial service for Greg was held on Sunday, December 19, 2004 at Columbine United Church, Littleton, CO. Greg was interred at Fort Logan Cemetery in Denver, CO on December 20, 2004. Please see the In Memory page for information about contributions in memory and honor of Greg.
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Greg was born in Denver, Colorado and raised in Littleton, where he attended Columbine area neighborhood schools. While he was growing up, Greg's focus was on his friends, having a good time, and pushing beyond the limits of most people. 
In November, 2001, Greg enlisted in the Marine Corps. On July 14, 2002, after having graduated from Columbine High School, he left for the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot in San Diego, California to attend Boot Camp. He graduated from Boot Camp on October 11, 2002 and went on to the Marine Corps School of Infantry for rifleman training at Camp Pendleton, CA. He graduated from the School of Infantry on January 10, 2003 and was assigned to the "Fighting Fifth"-the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, India Co, 2nd Platoon. 
One of the Marines in his Company sent an email to Greg's family within hours of Greg's death. It reads: