George Green

Rafterman

George Green

George with 2 of his 12

siblings

Missing for

Name: George Curtis Green Jr. 5th Special forces Group
D.O.B: 13 May 1950
Home of Record: Attica IN
Date of Loss: 04 DEC. 1970
Country Of Loss: Laos
Coordinates of loss:145418N / 1072858E
Status: Killed / Body Not Recovered
Aircarft/Vehichle: Ground
Unit: C&C Detachment, MACV-SOG, 5th Special Forces Group

Name: George Curtis Green, Jr.
Rank/Branch: E5/US Army Special Forces
Unit: C & C Detachment, MACV-SOG, 5th Special Forces Group
Date of Birth: 13 May 1950 (Indianapolis IN)
Home City of Record: Attica IN
Date of Loss: 04 December 1970
Country of Loss: Laos
Loss Coordinates: 145418N 1072858E (YB671492)
Status (in 1973): Killed/Body Not Recovered
Category: 2
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: Ground
Other Personnel in Incident: (none missing)

REMARKS:

SYNOPSIS: Sgt. George C. Green Jr. was a rifleman assigned to Special
Operations Augmentation, Command & Control Detachment, MACV-SOG (Military
Assistance Command, Vietnam Studies and Observation Group). MACV-SOG was a
joint service high command unconventional warfare task force engaged in highly
classified operations throughout Southeast Asia. The 5th Special Forces
channeled personnel into MACV-SOG (although it was not a Special Forces group)
through Special Operations Augmentation (SOA), which provided their "cover"
while under secret orders to MACV-SOG. The teams performed deep penetration
missions of strategic reconnaissance and interdiction which were called,
depending on the time frame, "Shining Brass" or "Prairie Fire" missions.

Green's long range reconnaissance patrol (LRRP) was operating in Attopeu
Province, Laos about 20 miles west of the South Vietnamese city of Dak Sut on
December 4, 1970. At 0920 hours that day, the enemy assaulted the team at a
landing zone (LZ) with rifle fire and rocket propelled grenades. Green was hit
three times and was instantly killed. Because of the intensity of the enemy
attack and fire, the recon team had to leave Green's remains behind.

Later aerial searches were made of the area, but Green's body was not seen.
Because of enemy control of the area, no ground search was possible. Green is
one of nearly 600 Americans lost in Laos. Although the communist government of
Laos stated publicly that they held American prisoners, they insisted the POWs
would be released only from Laos. The U.S. would not negotiate with the
communist faction, a "government" they did not officially recognize, and as a
result, not one American held in Laos was ever released.

For every insertion like Green's that were detected and stopped, dozens of
other commando teams safely slipped past NVA lines to strike a wide range of
targets and collect vital information. The number of MACV-SOG missions
conducted with Special Forces reconnaissance teams into Laos and Cambodia was
452 in 1969. It was the most sustained American campaign of raiding, sabotage
and intelligence-gathering waged on foreign soil in U.S. military history.
MACV-SOG's teams earned a global reputation as one of the most combat effective
deep-penetration forces ever raised.

The missions Green and others were assigned were exceedingly dangerous and of
strategic importance. The men who were put into such situations knew the
chances of their recovery if captured was slim to none. They quite naturally
assumed that their freedom would come by the end of the war. For 591 Americans,
freedom did come at the end of the war. For another nearly 600 lost in Laos,
however, freedom has never come.

Since the war ended, nearly 10,000 reports relating to missing Americans in
Southeast Asia have been received by the U.S., convincing many authorities that
hundreds remain alive in captivity. While Green may not be among them, one can
imagine his pride in mounting one more mission to help them to freedom. What
are we doing to bring these men home?