Posted by Trevor W. Swett, Jr. on August 11, 2003:

EULOGY - HARRY GRIFFITH (July 21, 2003) Ann, first of all, I want you to know, and your children and grandchildren to know, how much his West Point classmates have, over the years, loved and admired and respected your Griff. Please know, too, that the same love and admiration and respect has always been extended to you. That was true even before Harry's long and difficult illness took hold of him. It is truer than ever today, in view of the constant patient and loving care with which you handled this devastating situation. You have been an inspiration to us all. You are the gentle following breeze that always filled Harry's sails, and we love you, Ann. We '49ers are honored to participate in this celebration of Harry's life ... the life of one of the most wonderful human beings any of us has ever known. We thank God for having sent him to West Point and to our Class of 1949. My challenge is to find adequate words to do justice to his memory. Almost 55 years ago Griff became the First Captain of West Point's Corps of Cadets. As many of you know, the First Captain is THE top cadet in the Corps, selected by the Military Academy authorities at the beginning of the First Class (senior) year. They choose a cadet with an exceptionally outstanding record in academics, athletics, extra-curricular activities and, above all, they look for a true leader. They selected our Harry. Listen to the words that appeared in our graduation yearbook about Harry, words written by his classmates: SINCERITY, FRIENDLINESS, IMPECCABLE SENSE OF VALUES, INCLINATION TO ACTIVITY, KEEN MIND ... and the amazing thing is that each one of us here today, 55 years later, has observed those very characteristics in our personal relationships with our once and always First Captain. Harry's leadership ability, so apparent 55 years ago, resulted,as you well know, in his having heavy responsibilities throughout his 36-year Army career. Commencing with his days as a distinguished combat engineer during the Korean War, he progressed through a broad range of Army Engineer command responsilities with the same dynamic and caring leadership ability that he had demonstrated as a cadet. Not one of us was surprised, and we applauded, when Harry became one of the first '49ers to become a General Officer. His last active duty assignment, after his promotion to Lieutenant General, was to one of the most sensitive and challenging positions in the Department of Defense, that of Director of the Defense Nuclear Agency. One of the phrases mentioned by his classmates in the yearbook, "inclination to activity," was certainly pertinent to everything he did. After he retired from the Army Harry became a Vice President for Brown and Root. He was President of the West Point Society of the District of Columbia. He was the Vice Chairman of West Point's Association of Graduates. He tutored disadvantaged high school students for years. He prepared food for the local So Others Might Eat Program (SOME.) And in his free time Harry led the Class's effort to raise a million dollars for our 50th Reuniion gift to West Point. We also prevailed upon him to chair our 50th Reunion Committee. Yes, Harry was "inclined to activity". Despite his time consuming and heavy military responsibities while in uniform, and his business and community responsibilities later on, the two most important parts of Harry' life were God and Family. Through it all, Harry never lost sight of Heaven. He made a point of attending Mass almost daily. And his family were his pride and joy. In this regard I want to mention one of his most delightful moments, one which transcended his fulfillment from his many professional accomplishments. About ten years ago Harry and Ann went to Easton, PA, to watch their son Joe, a junior at Lafayette College and a member of its baseball team, play in a very important game. It happened to be a game with a better-than-average, heavily favored Army Team. Now nobody ever rooted more intensely for Army than Harry. Would you believe that, with Army ahead by a run and Lafayette up for their last at-bat, along came Joe with two runners on base. You guessed it, Joe hit a walk-off home run, sending Army down to defeat, and Harry and Ann were the happiest couple alive. Harry, you were our First Captain 55 years ago, and you have been our First Classmate ever since. For us all, you have been the epitome of a West Point role model. You have personified the West Point motto, DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY. Your religion was always filled with gladness. You always chose the Harder Right instead of the Easier Wrong. Your duty was consistently well performed. As we classmates grip hands with you we say to you, Classmate, WELL DONE ....... BE THOU AT PEACE, Brother. Ted Swett

admin