G . B . Greene , Jr . George Benjamin " Ben " Greene , Jr . ( April 20 , 1914 – August 15 , 1998 ) was an American Air Force major general who was commander of Lackland Military Training Center , Air Training Command , and Lackland Air Force Base , San Antonio , Texas . In the dual capacity he was responsible for the operation of one of the largest installations in the Air Force as well as for the direction of a wide range of training functions at the base . Greene was born in Laurens , South Carolina , in 1914 . After graduating from high school in Anderson , South Carolina , he attended Clemson University , obtaining his bachelor of science degree in 1935 . He was appointed a second lieutenant in the Organized Reserve Corps , June 4 , 1935 , enlisted as an aviation cadet in January 1937 , and completed flying training and received his pilot wings at Kelly Field , Texas , in January 1938 . Greene was then assigned to the 8th Pursuit Group , Langley Field , Virginia , as a pilot and group engineering officer . He became commander of the 35th Pursuit Squadron in December 1941 and moved with it to the Pacific Theater of Operations , serving in New Guinea . He flew 68 combat missions totaling 200 combat hours , all in fighter aircraft , and destroyed three enemy aircraft in air - to - air combat , four on the ground , and one on the water . Greene was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by General Douglas MacArthur for extraordinary heroism displayed over New Guinea on April 30 , 1942 . He received the Silver Star for gallantry in action over Port Morseby , New Guinea , and was awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flights in the Southwest Pacific area . Upon his return to the United States in 1943 , Greene assumed command of the 423d Reconnaissance Group at De Ridder , Louisiana . In September 1943 he was transferred to Drew Field , Florida , as Assistant A - 3 ( Operations ) for the 3d Fighter Command and later was assigned to the Third Air Force as deputy director of operations and training . In 1946 the Third Air Force became the Tactical Air Command with headquarters at Langley Field , and he served as assistant chief of staff , A - 3 , of TAC until October 1947 . Greene next was assigned to the 6th Fighter Wing in the Canal Zone as assistant chief of staff , A - 3 ( Operations ) . From August 1948 to August 1950 he served with the Caribbean Air Command . His next assignment took him to Stewart Air Force Base , New York , where he served with the Eastern Air Defense Forces . In August 1951 he went to New Castle County Airport , Delaware , as commander of the 113th Fighter Interceptor Wing and later commanded the 4710th Defense Wing . In August 1952 he entered the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base , Alabama , and after graduation in July 1953 he was assigned as commander of the 4708th Defense Wing at Selfridge Air Force Base , Michigan He became deputy chief of staff for personnel , Air Defense Command , in July 1956 ; and he was named chief of staff of ADC in July 1959 . Moving to Ramstein Air Base , Germany , in August 1960 , he became deputy commander of the Seventeenth Air Force . In August 1961 he was named deputy chief of staff for operations at Headquarters , U . S . Air Forces in Europe , Wiesbaden , Germany . Greene returned to the United States and became director of military personnel , Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel , at U . S . Air Force Headquarters in July 1963 . He moved to the U . S . Air Force Military Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base , Texas , in July 1965 , to become the assistant deputy chief of staff / personnel for military personnel , the new designation for the military functions which had been moved from Washington to Randolph . In July 1967 he was assigned as commander of the Lackland Military Training Center , Air Training Command , and as commander of Lackland Air Force Base , Texas . He retired August 1 , 1970 . He later died in 1998 . His decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal , Distinguished Service Cross , Silver Star , Legion of Merit and the Air Medal .