Sardinia veteran to be inducted into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame
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Ohio Military Hall of Fame-
A Sardinia man will be inducted into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame for Valor this month.
Sergeant Kenneth Green was born in Portsmouth, entered service from Georgetown and currently resides in the Sardinia area. He was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor for his service in the Vietnam War, according to Ohio Military Hall of Fame Board of Directors president Ted Mosure.
The following biographical information on Green’s military service was provided to The Highland County Press by OMHOF Board of Directors member Beth Eckersley:
“For heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force: Sergeant Green distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serving as an observer on a light observation helicopter on a combat operation in the Republic of Vietnam.
“Upon learning that two persons had been shot down in the dense jungle near a fortified enemy complex, the pilot of Sergeant Green’s helicopter flew directly to the crash site. While the aircraft was hovering dangerously low and exposed to the hostile fire, Sergeant Green spotted the wreckage. Immediately, he placed extremely accurate suppressive and protective fire around the aircraft, temporarily silencing the enemy fire that was systematically seeking out the wounded crewmen.
“Spotting a small unit in the near vicinity, Sergeant Green notified the pilot, who immediately flew to their location, and with arm and hand signals, he pointed to the crash site. Realizing there was no American adviser with the unit and that the wounded aviators would begin shooting to protect themselves if they heard Vietnamese soldiers approaching, he asked his pilot to put him on the ground.
“Hovering in the landing zone as close as possible to the crash site, he leaped from his aircraft and raced through the bullet-infested landing zone to the aid of the severely injured aviators. With complete disregard for his own personal safety and in the face of heavy enemy fire, Sergeant Green applied first aid to the critically wounded crewman. He then established a defensive perimeter with the friendly reaction unit that had just arrived.
“After personally carrying the wounded pilot back through the hostile fire to the rescue aircraft, Sergeant Green then remained behind to direct fire and aid in the recovery of the observer’s body. His gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.”
The 17th annual induction ceremony for the Ohio Military Hall of Fame for Valor will be conducted on Friday, April 29. The ceremony will take place in the Atrium of the Ohio Statehouse, commencing at 11:30 a.m.
This year’s class includes representatives from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps who served during the World War II, as well as the conflicts in Afghanistan, the Dominican Republic, Iraq, Korea and Vietnam.
These remarkable Ohioans have all gone above and beyond the call of duty and performed heroically in specific combat actions against armed enemies of the United States of America. For their actions, they have received such commendations as the Navy Cross, the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.
The 2016 inductees were born in and/or entered military service from, or currently reside in various towns and cities in Ohio, including Akron, Barberton, Belmont, Cheshire, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Cortland, Dayton, Delaware, Franklin, Gahanna, Galloway, Georgetown, Germantown, Groveport, Mansfield, Middletown, New Lexington, North Bend, Poland, Portsmouth, Powell, Plymouth, Rarden, Rossford, Salem, Sardinia, St. Clairsville, Wakeman, Tiro, Toledo, Warren, Xenia and Youngstown.
The ceremony will bring the total number of Ohio Military Hall of Fame for Valor inductees to 313, of whom six have received the Medal of Honor.
The induction ceremony will be open to the public. Currently, Colonel Chip Tansill (Director of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services) has been invited to speak at the event, which will culminate with the singing of “God Bless The USA” by Brian Michael Smith.
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The Ohio Military Hall of Fame for Valor is a 501(c)(19) non-profit organization, established in 2000 to recognize Ohio servicemen and women who were decorated for heroism while in combat situations. Please visit www.ohioheroes.org for more information regarding The Ohio Military Hall of Fame for Valor, the noble service members who have been inducted into its ranks and opportunities for charitable giving.
Sergeant Kenneth Green was born in Portsmouth, entered service from Georgetown and currently resides in the Sardinia area. He was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor for his service in the Vietnam War, according to Ohio Military Hall of Fame Board of Directors president Ted Mosure.
The following biographical information on Green’s military service was provided to The Highland County Press by OMHOF Board of Directors member Beth Eckersley:
“For heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force: Sergeant Green distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serving as an observer on a light observation helicopter on a combat operation in the Republic of Vietnam.
“Upon learning that two persons had been shot down in the dense jungle near a fortified enemy complex, the pilot of Sergeant Green’s helicopter flew directly to the crash site. While the aircraft was hovering dangerously low and exposed to the hostile fire, Sergeant Green spotted the wreckage. Immediately, he placed extremely accurate suppressive and protective fire around the aircraft, temporarily silencing the enemy fire that was systematically seeking out the wounded crewmen.
“Spotting a small unit in the near vicinity, Sergeant Green notified the pilot, who immediately flew to their location, and with arm and hand signals, he pointed to the crash site. Realizing there was no American adviser with the unit and that the wounded aviators would begin shooting to protect themselves if they heard Vietnamese soldiers approaching, he asked his pilot to put him on the ground.
“Hovering in the landing zone as close as possible to the crash site, he leaped from his aircraft and raced through the bullet-infested landing zone to the aid of the severely injured aviators. With complete disregard for his own personal safety and in the face of heavy enemy fire, Sergeant Green applied first aid to the critically wounded crewman. He then established a defensive perimeter with the friendly reaction unit that had just arrived.
“After personally carrying the wounded pilot back through the hostile fire to the rescue aircraft, Sergeant Green then remained behind to direct fire and aid in the recovery of the observer’s body. His gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.”
The 17th annual induction ceremony for the Ohio Military Hall of Fame for Valor will be conducted on Friday, April 29. The ceremony will take place in the Atrium of the Ohio Statehouse, commencing at 11:30 a.m.
This year’s class includes representatives from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps who served during the World War II, as well as the conflicts in Afghanistan, the Dominican Republic, Iraq, Korea and Vietnam.
These remarkable Ohioans have all gone above and beyond the call of duty and performed heroically in specific combat actions against armed enemies of the United States of America. For their actions, they have received such commendations as the Navy Cross, the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.
The 2016 inductees were born in and/or entered military service from, or currently reside in various towns and cities in Ohio, including Akron, Barberton, Belmont, Cheshire, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Cortland, Dayton, Delaware, Franklin, Gahanna, Galloway, Georgetown, Germantown, Groveport, Mansfield, Middletown, New Lexington, North Bend, Poland, Portsmouth, Powell, Plymouth, Rarden, Rossford, Salem, Sardinia, St. Clairsville, Wakeman, Tiro, Toledo, Warren, Xenia and Youngstown.
The ceremony will bring the total number of Ohio Military Hall of Fame for Valor inductees to 313, of whom six have received the Medal of Honor.
The induction ceremony will be open to the public. Currently, Colonel Chip Tansill (Director of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services) has been invited to speak at the event, which will culminate with the singing of “God Bless The USA” by Brian Michael Smith.
.
The Ohio Military Hall of Fame for Valor is a 501(c)(19) non-profit organization, established in 2000 to recognize Ohio servicemen and women who were decorated for heroism while in combat situations. Please visit www.ohioheroes.org for more information regarding The Ohio Military Hall of Fame for Valor, the noble service members who have been inducted into its ranks and opportunities for charitable giving.