Colonel Herschel H. Green was born on 3 July 1920 in Mayfield, Kentucky, to Ted and Deltrice Green, and was educated at Mayfield High School and Vanderbilt University. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and U.S. Airforce from 29 Sept. 1941 to 1 April 1964. During World War II in the Mediterranean Theater, North Africa, and Italy, he flew P-40, P-47, and P-51S aircraft. His record included 18 confirmed German aircraft shot down, 2 probable, 5 damaged, and 10 destroyed on the ground. On 30 January 1944, while flying with the 317th Squadron, 325 Fighter Group, he shot down 6 aircraft in one day. He became one of a few American pilots to rank as an ace in two different aircraft. His decorations included the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 25 Air Medals, and the Purple Heart.