World War II Honoree

Alonzo Frank Green, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Jasper, Florida

Honored By

William David Wilson, American Legion Post 68

At the start of WWII, he cut his college education short at the University of Florida to join the U.S. ARMY. He was a Lieutenant in the 17th Airborne Division when it was activated in April 1943. The 17th Airborne trained in the United States and was shipped to Britain at the end of Operation Overlord, arriving too late to participate in Operation Market Garden. He was shipped to France and then Belgium to relieve the 82nd Airborne Division and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was then withdrawn to Luxembourg to prepare for an assault over the River Rhine. In March 1945, the division participated in its first, and only, airborne operation, dropping alongside the British 6th Airborne Division as a part of Operation Varsity. The division then advanced through Northern Germany until the end of war, when it briefly undertook occupation duties in Germany before shipping back to the United States. He was the ranking survivor of the division; brought the troops home and was discharged when the Division was dissolved in September, 1945. Served with the 17th Airborne Division from its activation in April 1943 until it was dissolved in September 1945.