Retired Col. Herschel H. “Herky” Green, who amassed 18 aerial victory credits during World War II, died Aug. 16 in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., of cancer, reports the Daily Breeze. He was 86. Green served in the European and African theaters, flying 100 combat missions and 402 combat hours. He retired from the Air Force in 1964.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.