JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Every servicemember has their own journey through the military.
In this week's Stories of Service, First Coast News is profiling a Navy veteran who went from high school dropout, to a role model for thousands of other sailors.
"Had I not joined the Navy when I did, I'd probably be dead or in prison right now," said Reuben Keith Green, who was a high school dropout in the mid-1970s before his life took a very specific turn. "Serving in the Navy completely changed my life."
But, joining the Navy wasn't a decision that was completely out of the blue for Green.
"Having been raised by a Navy boatswain's mate, the transition to military life was not that difficult for me," Green told First Coast News. "Once I got into the Navy, I thrived because I was accustomed to the military lifestyle."
Green served in the Navy for 22 years before retiring in 1997 as a Lieutenant Commander – an achievement he is extremely proud of, and one that he feels made him a role model to other young Black sailors.
"People would stop me and tell me how proud they were to see a Black officer," said Green. "I did the same thing. If I saw a Black officer, I'd walk up to them and ask them questions like, 'How did you get here, what did you do?' Because it was so rare."
That sentiment gave way for Green to write a book called 'Black Officer, White Navy,' in which talks about his path from high school dropout, through military life. Green tells First Coast News he's not done writing it.
"I'm trying to get veterans to share their stories because there's a big hole in the literature where African Americans in the military after the Vietnam War might be," said Green.
Green continues to write stories for Liberty Life Media about servicemembers and their stories. More information about his book, 'Black Officer, White Navy' can be found here.
If you have a Story of Service that you would like First Coast News to profile, send an email to storiesofservice@firstcoastnews.com.