Herschel Green was born on July 3, 1920, in Mayfield, Kentucky. He enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Forces on September 29, 1941, and was commissioned a 2d Lt and awarded his pilot wings at Foster Field, Texas, on April 29, 1942. His first assignment was with the 57th Fighter Group at Bradley Field, Massachusetts, from May to September 1942, when he was transferred to the 317th Fighter Squadron of the 325th Fighter Group in Hargrove, Rhode Island. He deployed with the group to North Africa in January 1943 and was credited with destroying 18 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus another 10 on the ground in strafing runs before returning to the United States in June 1945. After the war, Col Green served as commander of the 4th Fighter Group and then served as the Chief of the Air Force Section with the Military Assistance and Advisory Group in Denmark from February 1950 to May 1953. His next assignment was as Assistant Director of Operations and Training with Headquarters Air Defense Command at Ent AFB, Colorado, from May 1953 to July 1956. He was Commander of the 4756th Air Defense Group at Moody AFB, Georgia, from July 1956 to April 1957, and then at Tyndall AFB, Florida, until October 1958. Col Green next served as Director of the Joint Test Force and Commander of Detachment 1 with Headquarters Air Defense Command at Otis AFB, Massachusetts, from October 1958 to January 1960, followed by service on the staff of 5th Air Force at Fuchu Air Station, Japan, from February 1960 to July 1963. His final assignment was as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations with the 25th Air Division at McChord AFB, Washington, from August 1963 until his retirement from the Air Force on April 1, 1964. After his retirement from the Air Force, Herschel Green worked for Hughes Aircraft Company until retiring in 1982. He wears Command Pilot Wings and accumulated over 4,000 flying hours during his Air Force career. Herschel Green died on August 16, 2006, and was buried at Green Hills Memorial Park in Racho Palos Verdes, California. He and his wife Jeanne had two daughters together, Anita and Kathryn.

The Synopsis for his Distinguished Service Cross reads:

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Herschel H. Green (0-659696), Major (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in the 317th Fighter Squadron, 325th Fighter Group, FIFTEENTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 30 January 1944, in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, during World War II. On this date Major Green shot down a total of SIX enemy aircraft in a single day. Major Green's unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 15th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.