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In Memory of U.S. Army First Lieutenant

Rodney R. Green

Box Elder, South Dakota, Pennington County

October 3, 1947 – February 18, 1969

Killed in Action in Quang Ngai, South Vietnam

Rodney R. Green was born on October 3, 1947, at Greenfield, Ohio to Wendell Lamar and Betty Jane (Pedgion) Green. His father was in the Air Force. He had been with his father in a least two foreign deployments, Panama, from 1948-1950 and Okinawa from 1959-1962. At some point after, Wendell was transferred to Ellsworth Air Force Base where Rodney graduated from Douglas High School in 1965, excelling in math and science. He enjoyed music, even playing guitar in a band prior to entering the service. He also played football, tennis, and golf.

Rodney Green married Yolanda Vallagomez and in addition to his step-children, Yolanda Ervin and Joe Lee Ervin, he had a son, Parish Green, who was born on June 14, 1967.

Rodney entered the service on December 5, 1966, at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, at which time he gave as his home address Ellsworth Air Force Base. First tested on December 8, 1966, Rodney was recommended for Officer Candidate School. He did his basic combat training at Fort Polk, Louisiana and then went on to Fort Ord, California for advanced training. Rodney went to Infantry School from May of 1967 until October 31, 1967, at Fort Benning, Georgia. Discharged on October 31, 1967, he accepted a commission as a second lieutenant. He was then an instructor in the Rangers at Fort Benning, until he went overseas to Vietnam on October 28, 1968, at which time he was promoted to first lieutenant and was a platoon leader for Company C, 4th Battalion, 21st Infantry, 11th Light Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. At the same time, his father was stationed at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines.

On February 18, 1969, First Lieutenant Rodney R. Green “died in Vietnam as a result of wounds received while on a combat operation when hit by fragments from a hostile booby trap.” Both his wife, Yolanda, and his parents were notified by Western Union telegram. His father, T/Sgt. Wendell Green, was granted 30 days of emergency leave to serve as military escort for his son’s remains. After a funeral service, Rodney R. Green was buried with military honors in Wilmington, Ohio, where his mother was living.

This entry was respectfully submitted by Sheila Hansen, teacher, Spearfish Middle School, Spearfish, SD, May 31, 2006. Information for this entry was provided by military personnel records. No family contact was established.