Major Joe B. Green. For extraordinary heroism in military operations against an armed force as an HH-E Rescue Crew Commander near the A Shau Valley, Republic of Vietnam, on 30 March 1968. On that date, Major Green led a force of four rescue helicopters over hostile territory in low overcast weather to reach the survivors from four downed United States helicopters. Intelligence briefings had disclosed that it was impossible to neutralize the hostile gun emplacements at the rescue site. Despite the knowledge that two additional helicopters were shot down while he was approaching the area Major Green elected to make the initial rescue attempt. He persisted in the rescue attempt after hostile fire forced him away from the site. He made two additional approaches, courageously maintaining the aircraft in a stationary hover until the four most severely wounded survivors were rescued. Only then did fuel shortage, aircraft malfunctions, and the critical nature of the survivorsí wounds compel him to leave the area. . .

Taken from the publication, For Extraordinary Heroism, The Air Force Cross, compiled by Jeffrey B. Floyd, Privately Printed, Alexandria, Virginia, 1982. Col. Green, a Life Member, joined the Legion of Valor in 1968 and resides in Texas.