A decorated war hero and WWII veteran was celebrated by dozens at a funeral service in Beaumont on Wednesday.
Artie 'Cowboy' Green lived to be 100 years old, and his daughters say they're glad for the years they got to spend with him. He died on Friday, May 1.
Lisa Roark and Ann Rook say their dad was so much more than just a proud veteran.
"On the B-17's he was the belly gunner which was at the bottom of the planes," Roark said.
Green served as a sergeant in the US Army Air Force during World War II.
His daughters say he didn't talk much about his time on the battlefield, but there is one memory that sticks out.
"They got lost and the pilot came on and said guys we've got 5 minutes then we are going to have to bail, get out of the plane," Roark said. "Then he said the same thing at three minutes then it got to be two minutes and at a minute and a half, my dad started praying and the sky opened up and there was the landing zone."
MORE | Artie Green obituary
His time at war isn't what the women remember most.
They say he was often "preaching about the Lord and living it."
"It's such an important part of my life," Rooks said. "He gave us a lot of memories and a lot of wonderful experiences."
Total strangers came to honor this hero. Ryan Jones, an Army veteran, stood on the side of the road with flags waving while the Patriot Guard Riders escorted Green's body to his final resting place.
"I think it's part of our duty as Americans to do that," Jones said. "They sacrificed far more than we could have ever imagined. So a couple of minutes out of our day to pay respects for a man like that is important."
Green was a recipient of the victory medal, the army of occupation medal, the good conduct medal and a bronze star.
"We really do love him and we will miss him but we had him for 100-years and not many people get that," Rooks said.