Griffith, Bennie Willis, Jr.

Date of birth:: 1921
Date of death:: 1988
Service number:: 0-1321032
Nationality:: American

Biography

?: Staff Sergeant;
?: 2nd Lieutenant;
?: 1st Lieutenant;
?: Captain;
1954: Major.

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

Purple Heart

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: 2nd Lieutenant
Unit:: Company A, 324th Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Division, U.S. Army
Awarded on:: March 24th, 1945

Bronze Star Medal (BSM)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: 1st Lieutenant
Unit:: Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon, 324th Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Division, U.S. Army
Awarded on:: April 9th, 1946

"For meritorious service in connection with military operations, as Platoon Leader, Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon, 324th Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Division, from 1 February 1945 to 1 May 1945. First Lieutenant Griffith displayed great aggressiveness and high qualities of leadership. Constantly at the forefront of his platoon, he personally directed its activities where the action was most critical; inspiring his men to a high level of enthusiasm. His examples of courage and extreme devotion to duty at great personal risk contributed materially to the combat successes of his platoon, reflecting great credit upon him and the armed forces of the United States."

Bronze Star Medal (BSM)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: 2nd Lieutenant
Unit:: Company G, 234th Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Division, U.S. Army

"By direction of the President, under the provisions of Executive Order 9419, 4 February 1944 a Bronze Star Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster) is awarded to First Lieutenant (then Second Lieutenant) Bennie W. Griffith, Jr, 01321032, 324th Infantry Regiment, for exemplary conduct in ground combat against the armed enemy on or about 3 January 1945 in the European Theater of Operations."

Second BSM received as Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster

Bronze Star Medal (BSM)

Period:: Korean War (1950-1953)
Rank:: Captain
Unit:: 301st Communication Reconnaissance Battalion, X Corps, U.S. Army

"Captain Bennie W Griffith, 01321032, Infantry, United States Army. Captain Griffith, Operations Officer,301st Communication Reconnaissance Battalion, is cited for meritorious service in connection with military operations against an armed enemy in Korea during the period 12 March 1953 to 7 October 1953. Captain Griffith distinguished himself by performing exceptionally meritorious service as Operations Officer of the 301st Communication Reconnaissance Battalion. He demonstrated professional skill, technical knowledge and farsighted planning in coordinating the intelligence activities within his battalion. Captain Griffith successfully reorganized the operations of the Division Liaison Detachment to provide a more efficient means of extracting intelligence and decreasing the time involved in disseminating the information to Division G-2s, which resulted in a closer coordination between the detachments, Division Staffs and the G-2 Staff of X Corps. His high professional skill and competent performance of duty, contributed directly to the furtherance of the mission of the United Nations in Korea. The meritorious service rendered by Captain Griffith throughout this period reflects great credit on himself and the military service."

Third BSM received as second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster

Good Conduct Medal - Army

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Staff Sergeant
Unit:: 27th Technical School Squadron, U.S. Army Air Corps

Signed by Commanding Officer Emmertz, Captain Air Corps.

Army of Occupation Medal

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: 1st Lieutenant
Unit:: Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon, 324th Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Division, U.S. Army

Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM)

Period:: Korean War (1950-1953)
Rank:: 1st Lieutenant
Unit:: U.S. Military Advisory Group to the Republic of Korea (KMAG), U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Government

"Your performance of duty with the United States Military Advisory Group to the Republic of Korea during the the period 15 October 1948 to 12 January 1950 is worthy of commendation. During the foregoing period you served as a regimental advisor to various regiments of the 5th Division, Korean Army. During that time, you developed the 4th and 20th Regiments, Korean Army from raw recruits to trained, capable combat units. Thanks to your enthusiasm, diligence and professional skill, those units which you advised have grown in a most noteworthy manner. Especially outstanding was your service during the Yosu Rebellion in October 1948, at which time you displayed great initiative, tactical skill and a high degree of industry in expediting the movement of supplies to the combat areas and in supervising the establishment and operation of a tactical command post for the Korean Army. Your sound advice, diligence and professional accomplishment of the mission of this group."