World War II Honoree

John E. Green

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

His Family

JACK ENLISTED APRIL 15, 1943 AT AGE 18 AND WAS SENT TO OFFICERS TRAINING AT FORT GEORGE C. MEADE, MARYLAND. HE DIDN'T PASS THE COLOR BLINDNESS TEST AND THE ARMY SENT HIM TO FORT MCCLELLAN, ALABAMA FOR INFANTRY BASIC TRAINING. HE ARRIVED IN SOUTHERN ENGLAND ON MAY 27, 1944 AND WAS ASSIGNED AS A REPLACEMENT TO COMPANY E, 11TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 5TH INFANTRY DIVISION IN GENERAL PATTON'S 3RD ARMY. HE ENTERED COMBAT AT NORMANDY BEACH ON JULY 16, 1944. HE PARTICIPATED IN THE TOUGH FIGHTING IN THE 'HEDGEROWS OF NORMANDY' AND THE 'BREAKOUT' AT ST. LO. JACK WAS WOUNDED IN SEPTEMBER 1944 BY A SHELL OR HAND GRENADE AFTER CROSSING THE MOSELLE RIVER IN FRONT OF THE FORTRESS OF METZ, FRANCE AND HAD TO BE EVACUATED BY SWIMMING BACK ACROSS THE MOSELLE. HE RETURNED TO DUTY AND WAS INJURED AGAIN IN DECEMBER 1944 BY A 'SCREAMING MEEMIE' CONCUSSION ROCKET DURING THE BULGE OFFENSIVE. AFTER CONVALESCING, HE WAS RETURNED TO HIS SQUAD AS A STAFF SERGEANT. HIS COMPANY WAS 60 MILES FROM PRAGUE ON V-E DAY.