Background
Greene was born on 21 November 1921 in Smithtown, New New York
Greene was born on 21 November 1921 in Smithtown, New New York
He enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve on 13 January 1941, and after aviation training, was commissioned ensign on 30 August 1941. Serving as a Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber pilot in Bombing Squadron 6 (VB-6) based on the aircraft carrier United States Ship Enterprise (CV-6), Greene was killed in action on 4 June 1942 in the Battle of Midway. He distinguished himself in breaking through heavy Japanese fighter and antiaircraft opposition to dive-bomb an Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carrier.
In 1943, the name Greene was assigned to the United States. Navy destroyer escort United States Ship Greene (Delaware-549).
Her construction was cancelled in 1944 before she could be completed. In 1944, the destroyer United States Ship Greene (Doctor of Divinity-711) was named in his honor.
She was in commission from 1945 to 1972.