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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Mrs. Amelia M. Green

Lt. Col. Robert P. Green, USAF (retired), age 82, left this life to begin another with the Lord on Wednesday, November 21, 2001. He was born on April 30, 1919 in Edwardsport, Indiana to Oscar P. and Brada A. (Messick) Green. He spent most of his childhood in Indianapolis, Indiana where he graduated from Washington High School in 1937. He valued education highly and spent two years working in a flour mill to earn enough money to attend Purdue University in. 1939.

Colonel Green was an outstanding and determined athlete in high school. At Purdue, he was on three university teams, as a quarterback, pitcher and squash player. He was a near scratch golfer and an excellent bowler. The events of December 7, 1941 led Colonel Green to volunteer for flying duty in the military, even though he could have remained in college two more years. He was dual trained as a US Army Air Corps navigator and bombardier, and served as the cadet commander.

After training in B-29 bombers, he was with the first group to land on Saipan in the fall of 1944 and begin the bombardment of Japan with the 73rd Bomb Wing of the 20th Air Force. He flew 35 combat missions totaling over 504 flying hours. Within the first six months, one half of his squadron was lost. For his flying skill and valor, he was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters.

After World War II, he served as the Wing Standard Evaluation Navigator, Emergency War Order Supervisor, Target Intelligence Officer, and Chief of Target Intelligence for various reconnaissance and bombardment wings including the 38th SRS, 55th SRW, and 99th Bomb Wing. The dangerous and long missions took him around and over the former Soviet Union and other hostile countries. He completed over 6,000 flying hours and achieved the rating of Master Navigator. Colonel Green retired from the United States Air Force on August 31, 1964 at Westover AFB in Chicopee, MA with almost 23 years of service.

He was decorated with the Air Force Commendation Medal. He also received the following military awards: American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award with four Oak Leaf Clusters, AF Reserve Medal, and Meritorious Service Unit Insignia. He also received the Presidential Unit Citation and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.

After receiving his B.S. degree from Purdue in 1962, he earned a Master's in Education in 1964 from Westfield State College and the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in 1979 from the University of Massachusetts, where he completed all required coursework for a doctorate degree in Administration.

On September 1, 1964, Colonel Green began his second career at Westfield State College, where he was initially hired as an instructor in the Physical Education Department, taught health and safety, served as director of intramural sports, and coached the golf and soccer teams. In 1964, he led the men's soccer team to its first league championship title in the New England College Conference. He was promoted to Dean of Men in 1965, while continuing to teach in the P.E. Department and to coach. In 1966, he became the Director of Student Services where his responsibilities included the oversight of all college functions and college personnel who worked directly with the students. In addition, he continued his teaching load, carried his responsibilities as Dean of Men, continued his student counseling duties, and added the responsibilities of financial aid to his position. As he developed the financial aid office and sought to increase local, state and federal funds available to deserving students, Colonel Green's workload increased significantly, necessitating a shift of all responsibilities except those of the financial aid office. He then became Director of Financial Aid in 1970 and remained in that position until his retirement in 1984.

During his twenty years at Westfield State, he received many awards in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the college and the student body, including the Professor of the Year Award in 1965-66, Tekoa Yearbook Dedication in 1969 where the students wrote that "he has nourished us both physically and emotionally," Alumnus of the Year in 1988 for distinguishing himself in two separate fields of endeavor, Westfield 150 Award for community involvement, and Award of Merit in the Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998. House Bill #6777 was introduced by the students in 1973 proposing to name a new women's dormitory in his honor and the drug rehabilitation house he worked diligently to establish in 1966 was affectionately called "Colonel Green's Chocolate House."

Throughout his career, Colonel Green was committed to his students and worked always in their best interest. Some students knew him as "Coach," some as "Dean Green," and some as "The Colonel," but all remember him as someone who was there when they needed him.

Colonel Green is survived by his beloved and treasured wife and golf buddy of 57 years, Amelia Molly M. (Golc) Green of Westfield, MA (originally of Indianapolis, IN) and his six children.

He was a loving and loyal husband, an inspirational role model, a friend as a parent and mentor, a kind and gentle grandparent, a certain navigator, a "true blue" USAF officer who lived the code of duty, honor and country every day, and an outstanding coach, teacher and administrator.

Editor's note: The National Air and Space Society files contain additional information about LtCol Green and his family.