Green, Don W. - The University of Kansas

I was in Air Force ROTC. I was active in Sigma Chi fraternity and was president of the
fraternity for one year. Academic and baseball scholarships helped finance my education
and I also worked part time. Pat and I were married during the fall semester of my fifth
year at the university. I graduated with a B.S. degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1955.
Q: What can you tell me about Pat?
A: Patricia Louise Polston was born March 10, 1934 in Tulsa, OK. She has a B.S. in
Sociology, and an M.S. in Social Welfare from the University of Kansas. She was a
counselor for alcoholism and drug abuse for many years. She had her own counseling
service for several years. Pat is an outstanding seamstress. She sews for herself and the
grandchildren, especially the granddaughters.
Q: What did you do after you finished your undergraduate degree?
A: I was called to active duty in November of 1955 and was stationed at Suffolk County Air
Force Base near Riverhead, NY. This is on Long Island, about 80 miles east of New
York City. Being a Midwesterner, the East Coast was the last place in the world I wanted
to be stationed. But it turned out to be a great location and assignment. I was a non-
flying officer because I was near sighted. Initially, I was a 2 nd Lieutenant and then was
promoted to 1 st Lieutenant. My first job was Petroleum Supply Officer for the base. So
for one year I was a glorified filling station attendant. But overall the experience was an
excellent one. The Air Force placed a lot of responsibility on its young officers, and it
was an experience that really helped me to mature and gain some management skills.
Later I was a Personnel Officer and then a Personnel Services officer. I was on active
duty for two years. Pat was with me throughout this period.
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