Norvin Green
Corporal Norvin Green served with Company A, Fifth Amphibian Tractor Battalion.
He was killed in action at Iwo Jima on 19 February 1945.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 915341
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by DPAA
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
November 14, 1921
in New Orleans, LA
Parents
Hilda Dolores (Lundgren) Green
Father’s name unknown
Education
Details unknown
Occupation & Employer
Process clerk
Rex Manufacturing Company
Service Life
Entered Service
November 17, 1943
at New Orleans, LA
Home Of Record
2307 Dauphine Street
New Orleans, LA
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Hilda L. Green
Military Specialty
Amphibian Tractor Driver
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart (Iwo Jima)
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Corporal Norvin Green drove an LVT with the Fifth Amphibian Tractor Battalion during the invasions of Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima. His outfit was attached to the 25th Marines for Iwo; Green was to drive them to the Blue Beaches and get back to the ship as quickly as possible to assist with unloading. On this mission, he drove an LVT(4) marked “5A-7.”
At first, everything went as planned. According to the battalion’s After Action Report, 94 tractors left the line of departure, and 94 reached the beach – “landing 100% of the troops carried,” it notes with pride, “no troops were landed in the water.” They were less fortunate during the withdrawal. Japanese mortars found the range of the retiring LVTs, scoring hits on four of them.
A shell demolished the cab of 5A-7, striking down the entire crew. Another tractor came to their aid, pulling a wounded Sergeant Frank K. Hadley from the wreck and retrieving the body of 1Lt. Paul R. Sumner. Rescuers peered into the ruined cab, but “all that could be seen were the mangled bodies of the driver and the radioman.” Tractor 5A-7 foundered a few moments later, taking the bodies of PFC James Polesso and Corporal Green with her.
Radioman Polesso’s body floated free and washed ashore; he was taken out to a transport for burial at sea. No identifiable trace of Norvin Green was ever found.
Burial Information or Disposition
None; sank with tractor.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Hilda Green
Location Of Loss
Green’s LVT sank offshore of Iwo’s Blue Beaches
