Green Honored As Veteran Of The Month
WARSAW — Charles F. Green was born on April 25, 1931 in the upstairs bedroom of a farmhouse in Fulton County, near Talma. Green went by the nickname “Sonny” and said that even his report cards in school identified him by that name.
He grew up in the Talma area and attended Talma school, graduating in 1950. After graduation, Green was working in a trailer factory. Due to the Korean conflict going on, Green and three of his buddies decided to enlist in the Air Force. They enlisted on Feb. 6, 1951 and were sent to Indianapolis. From there they were sent on to the basic training bases.
Green did his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas and was then sent to Blairsville, Pa. for technical automotive training.
After completing that training, he was sent to Warner Robbins Air Force Base in Georgia and was a member of the 3rd Motor Transport Squad. The whole outfit was sent to Sealand Air Force base, which is located between Liverpool and Chester, England, although the base was actually in Wales. His duties included going out on the road to repair disabled vehicles. He worked on vehicles and also on airplane fuel tanks. Green said it was quite something to be inside those tanks.
He returned to the U.S. in July 1953, after spending 18 months in the UK and was sent to Kinross AFB in upper Michigan. Later in 1953 they were reducing the number of airmen, and he was released from service Dec. 11, 1953.
Green went over on the USS General Patch and came back on the USS Henry Gibbons – he didn’t fly either way.
As a civilian once again, he had several different jobs from factory to food service and more. He served as superintendent of Oakwood Cemetery for a time, but mainly ended up being an over the road owner/operator truck driver. Green later delivered motor homes across the country. He drove through every continental state, including Alaska, where he drove two different units to Anchorage.
Green married Jennie Hall on June 27, 1951, prior to going to Georgia. They have four children: Andy, Paul, Mark and Julia. The couple also have 11 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and three great, great grandchildren.
Green is the owner of a 1958 Frisky Sport, a small British vehicle manufactured in Wolverhampton, England between 1958 and 1961. According to Jennie, there are only four of these in the U.S. — three in California and the one Green owns. Green purchased the vehicle in 1965. “It runs, we have it insured and plated,” said Jennie, adding that they have taken the vehicle to car shows over the years.
In 2012 the Greens shipped the engine to England to have it rebuilt. “We sent it in July and it came back to us in November,” Jennie recalls.
The 3rd Motor Transport Squad group held reunions for many years, meeting in different areas all around the country. The last one was four or five years ago. Due to the age and health issues of group members, they have ceased holding the reunions. Green has enjoyed keeping in contact with several of the men he served with.