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STORIES Kenneth Anderson
| Mae Green My father, Larry L. Green, joined the Marines in 1953 at the age of 17 during the Korean War. His first official duty station was in Japan with Charlie Company, 3rd Engineers, 3rd Marine Division, where he began his career as a baker. After Japan, he was stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina where his service obligation ended after four years and being promoted to Sergeant. While in the Marines, he received the United States Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Korean Service Medal, two National Defense Medals and the United Nations in Defense of the United Nations Charter in Korea Medal. Sixteen days after completing his service obligation for the Marines, my father joined the United States Navy. While in the Navy, he served on numerous aircraft carriers including the Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the USS Constellation, the Hornet for the Apollo 12 recovery mission and the USS Forrestal. He served more than ten duty stations including Dam Neck, Va., Great Lakes, Ill., and San Diego. While in the Navy he served during the Vietnam War and received the Vietnam Service Medal with three stars, four Navy Good Conduct Medals, the Navy Unit Commendation Award, the Presidential Unit Citation Award and the Meritorious Unit Commendation Award. He retired in 1978 as a Chief Petty Officer. Directly following his retirement, he began working for the Department of Defense, and then as a government contractor before permanently retiring in April 2002. He is involved in numerous veterans’ groups and has marched for veteran’s rights in Washington. While he keeps in contact with many of his fellow retirees, he takes the most pride in reliving his military memories with his brother, who retired after more than 20 years of Naval service as a Chief Petty Officer. |