The Killing of 2nd Lt. Allman

     Second Lt. Willis T. Allman was a veteran of the Omaha Beach landing during the D-Day invasion of Normandy. By December 1949 he had served thirteen years in service. On December 26, while his wife and two sons were in Rocky Mount, NC, visiting her family, Allman was playing shuffleboard at the Oriental Gardens in Norfolk with his friend Lt. Robert Buchanan. They were joined there by a guy they didn't know who was also playing shuffleboard in the club named Michael R. "Buddy" Green. After playing a few games Green left for a short time and upon his return to the club, he asked the two if they would take him to another club to play some more shuffleboard. 

    While riding in the backseat, Green produced a revolver and ordered them to pull the car over. He took their wallets with the $4.85 they had between them and made them lie down in a muddy field. Buchanan later testified that he said, "Don't shoot us, Buddy", and Green replied, "Too bad for you because you know my name". With that, Allman lunged at the gunman, and Buchanan ran to find help. He heard two gunshots and not finding anyone to help, returned to the field and saw Green driving away and Allman with a fatal chest wound. Allman died soon after, and in a very short time, Green was arrested at his home in Ocean View. Ironically, the two victims had no idea Green's nickname was Buddy. It was just what Buchanan used because he didn't know his name. 

    Green was found guilty of murder with Buchanan returning from his assignment in Korea to testify. He was sentenced to death, but on the eve of his execution, Governor John Battle commuted his sentence to life. The Governor consulted with mental health experts and felt Green was temporarily insane due to his combat experience in WWII. Green spent the rest of his life in prison.

    Willis T. Allman left a legacy, however. His two sons were Duane, and Gregg Allman of the Southern Rock, and Blues band, The Allman Brothers. They had no memory of their father and were raised by their mother Geraldine Allman. Their father was robbed and murdered by a fellow veteran for $4.85. Sometimes this world just makes no sense.