Sergeant Robert Delbert Green of Shelby County Texas was awarded the Silver Star for heroism while serving with the 413th Infantry Regiment of the 104th Infantry Division in the European Theater of Operations. The award was announced on General Orders 171, Headquarters 104th Infantry Division, 1945.

Robert Green was born in Shelby County on May 13th, 1918 to Robert and Evie Sample Green. According to the 1920 census he was the youngest of nine children. His siblings were Dora, Ara, Vera, Clarence, Jessie, Neva, Nonia and Herman. The 1930 census showed that only he, Nonia and Herman were still at home and their place of residence was in precinct 3, Myrick Ferry Road.

Mr. Green married Imogene Shull on June 7, 1940 and they must have moved to Orange County, Texas as the military information from the national archives shows his place of residence there. It also states that he enlisted at Camp Wolters (near Mineral Wells) on May 3rd, 1944, was married and completed one year of high school. He also trained at Camp Robinson, Arkansas that was used as an Infantry Replacement Training Center.

From there Private Green joined the 104th Infantry Division in Europe. The 104th was nicknamed the Timberwolf Division with the slogan “nothing in hell can stop the Timberwolves”. They entered combat on October 23rd, 1944 at Wuustwezel, Belgium, with 195 consecutive days in front line combat until May 6th 1945. (Reportedly more consecutive days of combat than any other division in the ETO).

Private First Class Robert Delbert Green was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action in Germany on March 1st, 1945 when he single-handedly captured an enemy patrol. The complete citation can be viewed under pictutures and records. He was later promoted to the rank of Sergeant and his infantry regiment was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for heroism.

Mr. Green died on January 28th, 1999 at the age of 81 and is buried in the Jackson Cemetery. Ernest Hemingway said “as you get older it is harder to have heroes, but it is sort of necessary”. Robert Delbert Green and all those who served in World War II will always be my heroes.

Robert D Green