Tailhook Mourns the Loss of Capt. Johnny "Turk" Green

It is with heavy heart we at Tailhook note the loss of Captain Johnny "Turk" Green.  We learned yesterday of Turk's passing after his continuing battle against cancer that had returned in May.

 

From LCDR Kevin "Proton" McLaughlin (Strike Force Colorado):

It is with profound sadness that I pass along to you the death of CAPT Johnny "Turk" Green last night. As many of you know, his cancer returned in early May and despite numerous (and sometimes radical) attempts to beat it back, he ultimately succumbed to it last evening with his family by his side. He and Barb made the decision in early September to go on hospice care and try to enjoy the remaining time he had left, but I don't think anyone could have anticipated the speed at which the cancer would take him. Beloved by all, he and Barb were celebrated two weeks ago in DC by hundreds in a crowd that included both ADMs Keating and Willard. The presence of so many great Americans was a true to testament to an incredible aviator, officer, and man.

Please keep Barb and the Green family in your thoughts and prayers and I will pass along more information about services as I get it.

VR,

Proton

And from Andrew Bahjat,

The only two words to adequately describe Turk Green are "Man-God". He was a Naval Aviator and aircraft carrier commander straight out of central casting. He looked and sounded the part and he was a LEADER! If you were in the Navy, he was who you wanted on your wing or commanding your carrier when you were in 'Indian country...if you were a civilian, you slept better, knowing that men like Turk Green were in command of the most powerful ships in the world out on the tip of the spear, at the edge of the empire, defending this nation and inspiring younger officers and sailors. He was the best of Naval Aviation. We are all blessed to have known him.

VR/WR,

Baghdad

To Barb and all of Turk's family and friends we offer our deepest sympathies for your great loss, all of our loss.  We thank you for sharing him with all of us for all these years!

God Bless...

More over at Lex's place too: [Link]

Comments

[LT Louie Cedillos]

It was an honor to have served with Capt. Green onboard USS John F Kennedy and USS Theodore Roosevelt. I will never forget him, a true leader, great speaker, and awesome motivator. My warmest thoughts to his wife Barb and his family, may God bless you all. Fair winds skipper.
V/R,
Flight Deck Officer, USN

[Lora Jackson, QM1(SW) Ret,USN]

I Just was searching for Capt. Green and found this. I served with Captain Green on board the HST. I was a senior enlisted sailor, but I love this man he was a Awesome Man of God. He took the time from his leave to come back to the ship to attend my last enlistment in the navy and made the ceremony Wonderful. He appeared in my life again at Comnavairlant and when I retired he spoke so well of me and made me feel like a millionaire. He spoke so well of my parents and told how I ran his ship and he knew it was because my parents didn't like mess. I have several people that will agree with me Capt. Turk Green was the best Naval Officer in my 20 years of serving. God bless you all and know He was and is a loved man of God

[MM1(SW) Bradley M. Stevens]

I just found out that Capt Green has passed last yr. He was my Commanding Officer for the USS Camden AOE-2, homeported at Bremerton Washington. He was the best Commanding Officer I have served under. The former crew of the USS Camden 1997-2001 will miss him and the spirit he had on the crew. God Bless and Rest in Peace.

[CWO3 Ret Steve Greer]

I just heard today from an 'ole HARRY S TRUMAN shipmate that Turk Green had passed away last year. I was shocked. So, tonight I did an Internet search to see what I could find. That brings me here.

As a former DCman who rode many ships of all classes as a memeber of Fleet Training Group conducting DC training and as a Warrant serving as the Fire Marshal on TRUMAN, I never met or served with a senior officer who gave as much attention to shipboard damage control as he did.

The Truman was one of my best tours of duty, and much of that is because men like him made doing your job meaninful. He was an aviator - I was a black shoe, but all I had to do was let him know what he should be doing as the XO to support the fire parties and the damage control training team. . . and he did it.

As a young warrant officer on my first CWO tour it was also great to see him walk into the Wardroom and come over to the table where a few of us warrants and LDOs were eating and he would ask if he could join us.

Lastly, I remember talking to an aviator from one of the embarked squadrons who served with Turk in a different squadron who started to tell us about the time he was with Turk on Liberty, in Japan I think, and he proved that if you were determined enough, you COULD stop a ceiling fan with your teeth! But that's a story for someone else to tell.

God be with you Johnny Turk Green and your family.

[Bob King]

I just learned today of CAPT Green’s passing today while searching former Naval Aviator students (PXOs or Prospective Executive Officers) that I taught at Naval Nuclear Power School (NNPS) from 1995-97.

CAPT Green was a great man and I have many fond memories – of teaching, tutoring and casual conversations. He overcame a great deal of adversity to succeed at NNPS. The PXO students attend after squadron command, around the 20 years of service point. The bulk of the students are Navy Ensigns, fresh out of college, nearly all in their early 20s. Despite the differences, all are held to the same rigorous academic standard. Due to his prior enlistment, CAPT Green was several years older than his peers – and much further removed from his undergraduate studies.

As a result, his children were also older – I recall his daughter was a senior in high school during his six months in Orlando; a very difficult time to be separated from his family.

One story he told I’ll never forget. We were talking about inspections, unrealistic (inflated) standards and shared common feelings about the “dog and pony show” nature of many inspections. I’ll relay the story as I recall, I’m a submarine officer, not an aviator, so I do not know the specific terms.

He was in squadron command and had a routine scheduled inspection. Rather than jump through hoops in preparation (replace all binders with new shiny ones, concentrate all efforts on the “checklist”, etc) he conducted business as usual, as his personal high standards. The result? He received a below average or perhaps even failing grade on the inspection.

In speaking with his superior (I presume it would have been the Wing Commander) he told him that the inspection team could come back, at any time unannounced, and they would find his day-to-day level of readiness and standards at the same high level.
He did receive a subsequent inspection, he did NOT change anything or get ready for it, and this time he passed because they used a realistic standard, as opposed to the “dog and pony show” standard used on the previous visit.

CAPT Green earned a great deal of respect from me for his willingness to stand up and do what’s right, despite the possible personal or career consequences.

I send my deepest belated regrets to his family and friends for your loss.

Bob King
[email protected]

[Paula Green]

That was so nice Sales.

Paula Green

[Thom Roddy]

I served under Turk as his Admin Officer on TR. He was fair to fault.

I will always respect him for his willingness to let a Mustang Admin LDO be his Command Duty Officer and live the dream on a Nuclear Aircraft Carrier.

I enjoyed my duty days as CDO unlike many others. When I enlisted in 1980 as a Seaman Recruit, who knew I would be left to the care, security, responsibility and accountablity of a nuclear aircraft carrier someday.

Turk Green gave me that opportunity, I will be forever in his debt.

[Hon. MASTER CHIEF K.SALES WOODY DVCCM CVN-71 (Ret.)]

'99' - PROTON & BAGHDADDY FINALLY GOT IT RIGHT: MAN-GOD ? YOU BET YOUR A_S.....AND THAN SOME......

-RAKE FENDERS AND COME ALONG SIDE -

THE 'TURK FIGHTER' WAS THE ULTIMATE NAVAL AVIATOR, COMMANDING OFFICER, HUSBAND, FATHER & BROTHER. HE WAS THE BEST FRIEND A PERSON COULD EVER HAVE. HE WAS THE TYPE OF BOSS THAT, IF YOUR LUCKY, COMES ALONG ONCE IN A LIFETIME. TURK WAS SPECIAL. VERY SPECIAL.

OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO ENGAGE CAPTAIN GREEN ON A VERY PERSONAL LEVEL. I WITNESSED THE AFOREMENTIONED PERSONALITY TRAITS IN REAL TIME. OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS I, LIKE MANY OF YOU, HAVE BEEN REFLECTING ABOUT SAME. PLEASE ENDULGE THE Hon.E-9 AS HE PONTIFICATES FOR A MOMENT ABOUT THE "ORIGINAL BBSOB".

I FIRST MET J.L. TURK GREEN IN THE INPORT CABIN ON THEODORE ROOSEVELT. IT WAS COC TIME ON 'TR' AND TURK WAS ABOUT AN HOUR OUT FROM ACCEPTING THE KEYS FROM SPANKY O'HANLON.
I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE MY FIRST CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DOWN BEFORE SPANKY WAVED ME OVER TO DO THE TURK/SALES INTRO.

CAPTAIN O''HANLON & I HAD DONE A TON OF 'DV' & 'MWR' WORK PRIOR TO THE COC BOTH DURING & AFTER THE THE OEF & OIF DEPLOYMENTS. AS I LOOK BACK ON IT NOW, BY COC TIME, I AM SURE CAPTAIN, NOW ADMIRAL, O'HANLON HAD HAD ENOUGH OF ME & WAS GLAD TO FINALLY BE HANDING ME OFF TO TURK (A FEW YEARS LATER THE ADMIRAL WENT AS FAR AS OFFERING UP A NEW CALL SIGN FOR ME - "VIRUS" - AS HE EXPLAINED TO THE SHIP'S POLLOCK 'RMO' AT THE TIME; "SALES WILL NOT GO AWAY TOM".

SO THERE I WAS. ON THIS FIRST DAY OF HIS NEW COMMAND, TURK'S NEW CHARGE.

I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR WHAT AWAITED ME AND I AM HEAR TO TELL YA, AS I FOUND OUT MANY YEARS LATER, NOR WAS TURK. WHEN I LOOK BACK ON THAT DAY, LITTLE DID WE KNOW, WE PROBABLY NEEDED SHOTS. THE VIRUS HAD JUST LOCATED IT'S "NEW" HOST.

OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, TURK & I TRAVELED TOGETHER. WE SMOKED TOGETHER. WE ATE AND DRANK TOGETHER (DID WE EVER). OUR GALS BECAME CLOSE. THE GREEK & I BECAME TIGHT WITH HE & BARB'S CHILDREN. WE, AS TURK LIKED TO SAY; "WERE BROTHERS".

WHO WAS I TO ARGUE WITH TURK GREEN ? HE WAS TALLER THAN I. HE WAS A CVN C.O & A FIGHTER PILOT. I WAS A METAL BENDER FROM DETRIOT. NO CONTEST. NONE. NOT EVEN CLOSE. TURK WAS HUGE.

I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ON THE BRIDGE NEXT TO TURK WHEN HE TOOK 'TR' OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME. I WAS MORE THAN GRATEFUL WHEN INVITED BACK OUT WHEN TURK FLOATED HIS MIGHTY WARSHIP BACK PIER SIDE, FOR THE VERY LAST TIME. IN REALITY, I HAD WON THE TIGER CRUSIE, 'DV' EMBARK & "ONE OF YOUR BEST FRIENDS IS AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER C.O." LOTTERY. WE HAD FUN ON THEODORE ROOSEVELT. SCOUDREL AT SEA IN NATURE TYPE FUN. THAT REMINDS ME: ONE TIME, WE WERE ON THE FANTAIL WHEN ..........................

"MASTER CHIEF, J U D Y" !!!!!!

TURK WAS MY MENTOR & ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS. I LOOKED UP TO HIM. NOT BECAUSE HE WAS TALLER THAN ME BUT BECAUSE I RESPECTED TURK GREEN. ALWAYS HAVE - ALWAYS WILL. I BECAME A STUDENT OF TURK GREENS. TURK TAUGHT ME HOW TO LISTEN (IMAGINE WHAT I WAS LIKE IN THE PRE-TURK DAYS ?). TURK WAS A GREAT LEADER. HE WON AWARDS FOR IT. THE NAVY LET HIM FLY JETS OF AIRCRAFT CARRIERS & TRAIN NEW LEADERS AND THEY PAID HIM FOR IT. NO WONDER HE REFERRED TO HIMSELF AS "THE HAPPIEST SAILOR IN THE NAVY".

I LOOK FORWARD TO LOOKING UP TO MY SKIPPER AGAIN SOMEDAY.....I PRAY THAT I AM DEEMED WORTHY & THAT IT WILL BE IN PERSON.

LOOKING BACK, I'M STILL NOT SURE WHAT THE ORIGINAL BONDING AGENT WAS (OFFICALLY I'M BLAMING THE ADMIRAL) BUT BARB ONCE SAID IT WAS "OUR SHARED PASSION FOR LIFE & PEOPLE IN IT" THAT BROUGHT US TOGETHER. STILL NOT SURE I CAN PUT A FINGER ON IT BUT I REALLY DON'T CARE TOO. I'M JUST GLAD IT HAPPEND, THAT OUR PATHS CROSSED.

PATHS I SAY ? DID I JUST SAY THAT ? HE_L !!!! THEY WERE EXPRESSWAYS THAT TURK & I TRAVELED, NOT PATHS. PATHS ARE FOR LITTLE KIDS ALTHOUGH, NOW THAT I'M REFLECTING, WE DID ACT LIKE LITTLE KIDS AT TIMES (ESPECIALLY THAT DAY ON WOODWARD AVE. IN THE FERRARI WHEN TURK REACHED OVER & BEGAN TO BANG THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR PANEL BITCHING BECAUSE THERE WAS NO THOTTLE AND PROCEEDING TO SCARE ME TO DEATH WHEN HE ASKED FOR THE VECTOR). WE HAD A BALL TOGETHER. WILL AGAIN SOMEDAY. I AM SURE OF IT BUT I HOPE THEY DO NOT HAVE FERRARIS IN HEAVEN. NO NEED TO GO THERE AGAIN.

IN CONCLUSION, WE WILL ALL MISS HIS HUMOR, "THE GLASS ALWAYS FULL" ATTITUDE, THE DINO MARTIN STYLE SILKY VOICE W/ JUST THE RIGHT HINT OF RASPY IN IT. THAT BOOMING VOICE THAT COULD SUCK YOU UP HUGE, LIKE THE INTAKE OF HIS BELOVED HORNET.

TURK WAS EASY TO GET CAUGHT-UP IN. HIS WAKE WAS LIKE THAT OF OF A CVN ON RIDILEN. TURK WAS HUGE & WILL REMAIN SO. I AM "HONORED" SIR. WE ALL ARE. ALWAYS WILL BE.....

LONG LIVE THE ORIGINAL BIG BALLED SON-OF A BI_CH ! MAY HE LIVE FOREVER. HUGE GUYS TEND TO DO THAT.

C U AT THE HALE' MAKI SKIPPER. I'LL BRING THE POP-TARTS !!!!!

V/R,

HMCPO K. 'Sales' Woody
DVCCM CVN-71 (Ret.)

P.S. SORRY BUT THIS UNIT DOES NOT HAVE SPELL CHECK.....DUH!