Johon Sherman Greene - First Iowan Killed in World War II


JOHON SHERMAN GREENE 

[Johon Sherman Green was the son of Willie Byron Green and Margaret
(Maggie) (Unknown) Green, and the grandson of William M. Green and
Martha Louisa Jordan Green Balch.]

First Lieutenant J. Sherman Greene, age 33, was killed Sunday, December
7, 1941, by the Japanese bomb attack at Hickham Field, Hawaii.  Just
what his duties were in Hawaii were unknown, because of the rules
regarding censorship, but it was known that he had worked in the finance
division.  His name was among the Army's first official casualty list
published by the War Department. 

Johon Sherman Greene was the second son of Willie and Maggie Green.  He
had graduated from East High School in Des Moines, Iowa, in June of 1925
with honors, and "made a splendid scholastic record and also
distinguished himself in debate and athletics." 

Following his graduation from the State University of Iowa College of
Law in 1934, he had made his home in Colfax, Iowa, 22 miles northeast of
Des Moines.  Besides practicing law, he became interested in politics
and was active in Democratic circles.  At the time that Lieutenant
Greene was called for active army duty, he was serving his fourth term
as Colfax City solicitor and had twice been Democratic candidate for
Jasper county attorney.

Lieutenant Greene was called to duty on August 17, 1941, and reported to
Fort Des Moines Army Post.  He had gained his commission and became part
of the Army Infantry Reserve through Reserve Officer Training Corps, and
had trained while he attended the University at Iowa City.

Orders transferring Lieutenant Greene to the headquarters squadron of
the 18th Wing came through, and on October 1, 1941, he left Fort Des
Moines for San Francisco, California.  With other troops, he sailed
October 1, 1941, for Hawaii, arriving there October 11, 1941.

Iowa Democratic Chairman Jake Moore issued the following statement: 
"Iowa lost one of its finest young men in the death of Johon Sherman
Greene.  He had been very active in Young Democratic club work and was a
vice president of the state organization when he left for duty in
Hawaii.  All Democrats in Iowa lost a true friend when Johon died for
his country." 

Lieutenant Greene's widow, Ida Greene, to whom he had been married for
only two years, became Iowa's first war widow, when her husband was
killed.  He was also survived by his mother Mrs. Margaret Green of
Colfax, Iowa; his father, W. M. Green, who operates a barber shop in
West Des Moines, Iowa; a brother, Zell Green of Sacramento, California;
and a half-sister, Billie Marie Green of West Des Moines, Iowa.  


NOTES:  An extra "E" was added to the end of Sherman's name by the
United States Army, when he was commissioned, and he decided to just
leave it there.  As related by Carol Murphy Zeiger, his first cousin.

SOURCES:  Newspaper article in THE DES MOINES REGISTER AND TRIBUNE,
dated December 9, 1941, titled "Six Officers Among Dead."  Article
located in Carol Murphy Zeiger's World War II scrapbooks, located at the
home of Carol Fellows.

Newspaper article in THE DES MOINES REGISTER AND TRIBUNE, dated December
9, 1941, titled "Jap Raid Victim A Native of City."  Article located in
Carol Murphy Zeiger's World War II scrapbooks, located at the home of
Carol Fellows.

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Submitted by Carol Fellows <sgtjess@cybertrails.com>
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