Posted by Terry Powers on March 14, 2023:

Harry A. Griffith 1949 Cullum No. 16789-1949 | July 16, 2003 | Died in Fairfax, VA Interred in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA Harry Augustus Griffith was born in Boonton, NJ, in 1924, the fourth child of a small hotel owner and Polish immigrant moth­er. He and his three sisters helped in the run­ning of the hotel and restaurant as they grew up. He worked his father's farm as well, developing a fondness for hard work and the outdoors. An excellent student, Dad graduated from Boonton High School at age 16 and attended Cornell University for one year. Following that, he served 26 months in the Infantry and Field Artillery during World War II and en­tered West Point in the summer of 1945 with the Class of 1949. He excelled as a cadet, earn­ing the position of first captain. Admired by his classmates, his Howitzer write-up nailed him: "Sincerity, friendliness, and an impeccable sense of values characterize 'Griff.'" Dad branched Engineers, and his first as­signment took him to the Korean War with the 839th Engineer Aviation Battalion, where his unit was responsible for the disposal of captured enemy material. He then went on to numerous troop assignments, including two company commands. One of the highlights of his career was service as aide-de-camp to GEN Charles Bolte, commander of U.S. Army Europe. Dad admired his first Army mentor and took away many lessons that would stay with him throughout his career. Back stateside, he earned his master's degree in civil engineering at Cal Tech and then, at Ft. Lewis, met the love of his life, Ann Buckley. After a brief courtship, they were married in April of 1956. Their hon­eymoon assignment was West Point, where Dad served as the F-1 tactical officer, a role he loved. The first two of six children arrived at West Point: Elizabeth (Betsy) and Harry III. After Command & General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth and a tour in Alaska, where third child Paul was born, Dad took command of the 27th Engineer Battalion at Ft. Campbell. He relished his time in bat­talion command and enjoyed the friendly ri­valry with his airborne friends from the 101st. Dad then was assigned to Washington, DC, where he enjoyed a series of assignments over six years with the Office of Personnel Operations, Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Advanced Ballistic Missile Defense Agency, as well as completion of the National War College. This period saw the birth of Mary and John and an unusual period of stability for an Army family in the sixties. Duty in Vietnam finally called, and Dad went to Cam Ranh Bay to command the 35th Engineer Group. He came home in the spring of 1970 to his beloved mother's funeral and received orders to be the district engineer of the Mobile district, the start of a long run of civil engineer commands. Making numerous contributions to the Mobile district, especially in regards to the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, it was here that Mom and Dad's youngest, Joe, was born. Dallas was next, as now - BG Griffith assumed command of the Southwest engineering divi­sion. Only one year into this command, it was back to the DC area for a three-year stint with Development and Readiness Command. Then he went on to Korea as Chief, Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group, where he was very fortunate to work for another respected men­tor, General John Vessey. This tour was an exciting one for the family, as Mom and Dad had us jump into the Korean scene with visits to the Demilitarized Zone and historical sites, skiing at Dragon Valley, and tennis and music with local nationals. After a second engineering division com­mand, this time with the Ohio River Division in Cincinnati, Dad, now a lieutenant general, ended his career with a final DC area tour as head of the Defense Nuclear Agency. Upon retirement in the summer of 1983, Dad wasted little time and began work with Sears World Trade. After a brief stint there, he made his final career move and joined Brown & Root. He enjoyed those years and retired from there in 1995. While he made a hefty contribution to national defense, Dad was husband and fa­ther first. He adored Mom, embraced each of us in a special way, laughed with our friends, and became a dear relative to all of his in-laws and 17 grandchildren. Dad's devotion to his Catholic faith was a constant inspiration to family and friends throughout his life. His integrity, robust spirit, and tender heart showed through in his daily endeavors at work and home, and his example was felt - and continues on - in every seg­ment of his rich life. As any reader of this tribute would know, Dad never met a stranger. With resounding voice and laugh, only-inches-from-your-face style and warm bear-hug, he embraced peo­ple from every walk of life. Dad was a people person like few others. Probably spawned from his boyhood days as part of a working class family in Boonton, he had special empathy for the less privileged. His work with DC area inner city youth was a constant for years. It's impossible to overstate Dad's devotion to his cherished alma mater. He often would be heard singing - in the strong voice reminiscent of his Glee Club days - "The Corps" or "Alma Mater." Stories of recruiting impressive young busboys, friends of his children, and even one of his son's college tennis teammates were le­gion. His official loyalty was marked by over ten years' service on the West Point Association of Graduates Board of Trustees. His beloved relatives and classmates said it best in notes to Mom following Dad's death. "We will always think of him as that spar­kling-eyed presence." "Your Harry was such a guy - complete family man, gentleman...such a leader - he touched so many lives...he was loved and respected by so many." Indeed he was. We love you, Dad! - The family

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