Posted by Bob Hayden on September 19, 2011:

Turner Griffin, Buck to anyone who knew him, was born in Texas in Feb 1936 but emigrated to Shreveport when he was about 6 and grew up there. He attended and graduated from the Culver Military Academy in Indiana. I suspect he was there more to deal with his free spirit than any inclination towards the military at that time. He was an athlete and loved football. He entered West Point in July 1954. Unfortunately, he had injured his knee before graduating from Culver and it is a wonder he was able to make it thru the first summer, called Beast Barracks. With his strong spirit he did make it and even was able to get a Plebe "letter" in Wrestling but his knee continued to bother him and he had knee surgery at WP --which at that time was devastating to the knee. The Head Orthopedic surgeon was named PARVIN and was known as "Carvin' Parvin"; having one of Parvin's knees was not a good thing. So, Buck was not able to play football. He and I were classmates at West Point but did not know each other well. However, those who were close to him said that, while he was just strong enough academically, his sense of humor and high spirits kept himself and others motivated to make it thru in good style. His roommate credits him with helping him make it at all. Buck could always manage a good quip, even with the stodgy academic professors. One example of how he helped lighten the load is the following from one of his company mates: The Plebes usually sat 4 to a 10-man dining table. The rest being upperclassmen. The plebes sat at attention unless the table commandant had mercy on them - which he usually did not. Buck once offered to perform the "Myer Sniffen poop" at the table - POOP meaning information or a story. The upperclassmen hadn't a clue what he meant, but they did know that Myer Sniffen was the brand of commodes in the barracks. They agreed. Buck proceeded to pull his ear and literally flush himself down his seat and under the table. All plebes at the table got to eat as normal people. After graduation from WP in June 1958, He was commissioned in Artillery but soon went to Army Flight School and served almost all of his 26 year career in aviation related assignments. His military service took him to many locations in the US and around the world. He served in the embassy in Zaire Africa, in Italy, Germany, twice in Viet Nam - including one tour with the 101st airborne division. He was stationed at West Point, at the Army's Military Personnel Center and retired from the Army Readiness Region 7 at Ft Sam Houston in 1985. He earned many awards, medals and badges for his service, including the Combat Infantrymans' Badge, Legion of Merit, The Bronze Star Medal, Master Aviator Badge, 22 Air Medals, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm. 24 years after our graduation, Buck and I met again when he was assigned to FSH in 1982. He soon joined the West Point Society and became interested in the Admissions Program which seeks qualified high school students and encourages them to apply for an appointment to West Point. Buck took over responsibility for the program for all of South Texas. This required considerable travel, meetings with school counselors, congressional aides, parents and students. He recruited other graduates to help but he was by far the most active and certainly the leader. Once the student had applied, Buck reviewed each one's progress in taking tests and otherwise preparing to enter the academy. Buck kept close track of them even after they had entered. For 23 years - nearly as long as his military service - and until he physically could not continue, he managed the program. Buck was responsible for admitting over 350 cadets to West Point. Let me read a part of what one of them, currently a major serving in DC, wrote, this past week about Buck: "It was a pleasure to work with you. I was one of your cadets! You interviewed me, mentored me, administered my physical fitness test and even wrote to me when I was in basic training to check up on me at West Point. You had the experience and the wisdom to say the right words at the right times. Your heart was way bigger than you ever let on and I love you for it." In 2006, The Superintendent of West Point presented Buck with the Department of the Army Civilian Commendation Award for his service. Frankly, as glowing as the citation was, it was faint praise for what he did. To Buck, I'm sure, the joy and reward were in the year to year results. West Point (Army) football was Buck's third major passion after family and the Admissions Program. In fact, he was particularly delighted when he could identify a good football prospect or, really, an athlete of any kind. One classmate said that last season, when Buck could not get the station televising the Army game, Buck called him, in Kansas, because he could get it. They talked on the phone the whole game with play by play reporting. On the morning of his last day, we were scrambling to find a way to show the Army football game in his hospital room which did not have the channel the game was on. We did not succeed but he would not have seen it, anyway. As Thomas Campbell, the Scottish poet, said in 1825: To live in Hearts we Leave, is not to die. But, if there is a lesson I've learned from the past month, it is this---If one has a friend, don't assume they will live forever; see them as often as you can so your heart can be full. In closing, I will paraphrase a verse from the West Point Alma Mater: Buck, Your Work is Done Your Course on Earth is Run And it is said Well Done, Be thou at Peace.

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