George Green, Jr. was born in New York but moved to Monhegan as a very young child. His father was a carpenter on the island and George attended the Monhegan School.

In 1940, George Green, Jr. was 15 years old, living on Monhegan with his widowed mother, Elizabeth “Bess” Green and his 10 year old brother, Walter.  He enlisted in the Navy in 1942 but had to get permission from his mother as he was only 17 years old and still in high school.
George was a Motor Machinist Mate, 1st Class. The role of a Machinist Mate is to operate, maintain and repair all of the machinery on board from the ship’s propulsion machinery to the laundry equipment with the core job being the engine room. George received an honorable discharge. The gold insignia is an honorable discharge badge.