In 1930 the Green family lived in Meridian, Mississippi a town with a population at the time of just above 30,000. The road that they inhabited was Rt. 4, Beat 1. James had four siblings: Clara Omera Green (March 21, 1915 – May 11, 1939), Hazel Elberta Green (August 8, 1917 – September 1, 2006), Earl Travis Green (April 14, 1920 – December 23, 1943), James Bennett Green (February 28, 1925 – December 18, 1944), and Annie Laura Green Roberts (1929 – 1976). Earl Travis Green also served and was killed in the war. Earl was a member of the 82nd Fighter Group 95th Fighter Squadron, where he along with the rest of the Squadron received training in Northern Ireland, deployed in Algeria to help on the ground, flew antisubmarine missions, and bombed Pantellaria before his death over the Bay of Biscay while heading to Gibraltar. James was born to Asa Green (July 27, 1877 – December 1, 1950) and Mae Lang Green (December 25, 1892 – November 13, 1993). Many of the members of James's family had a history of service or being registered to service during war such as his father and grandfather on Asa's side of the family. Asa Green also worked most of his life as a farmer so it is likely that Asa made James perform many of the duties on the farm as a young child. James attended and graduated from Ponta High School in Ponta Country School District (a historical district that no longer exists).