Jeff Griffith
Society
Member

Duty Position(s):
Sentinel
Assistant Relief Commander

Relief:
2nd

Dates:
1979 - 1980

Brief Army History:
Enlisted 1976 ETS'd 1980

Units:
82nd Airborne Division – 508th Airborne Infantry
Company E, (Honor Guard) 3d US Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), Fort Myer, VA

SGT.  Jeff Griffith.jpg (252798 bytes)

Personal Gallery


Awards / Decorations:
Army Commendation Medal 
Army Good Conduct Medal
Parachutist Badge
Expert Infantryman's Badge
Tomb Guard Identification Badge
Expert Rifle Badge


 

Highest Rank:

Sergeant  (E-5)


Home City / State:
Shawnee, Oklahoma

Date of Birth:


After the Army:
Police Officer – Shawnee Police Dept, Shawnee, Ok – 1980 - 1982
State Trooper – Oklahoma Highway Patrol – 1982- present

Current Occupation:
Captain – Oklahoma Highway Patrol

Family Information:

Degrees/Schooling:
A.S. - Seminole State College, Seminole, Ok
B.A. - University of Oklahoma, Norman, Ok
FBI National Academy, Quantico, Va

Most Memorable Moment at Tomb:
There are many memorable moments. Like most Sentinels, I remember my first walk and my last. However, my most memorable moment at the Tomb was during a guard change, where I was struck by the bayonet near the eye. As the Relief Commander spun the M-14 during the inspection, he lost control of the weapon and the bayonet and rifle struck my hat and head.  I was cut near the left eye and the impact knocked off my hat and sun glasses. I remained at attention and the Relief Commander continued and finished the inspection, returning my weapon back to me. It was during the summer, and we had a very large crowd covering the plaza. Several ladies standing nearby became distraught and the Security Guards came rushing near as they did not see what happened, only that I was bleeding severely.  By then, blood was running freely down my face and onto my blues. After only a moment, my uniform was covered with blood and the Relief Commander sent me back down stairs. Another Sentinel was dispatched and the guard change continued. I went to the medics and they taped it shut with a few butterfly bandages and I returned to man night hours. Several VIP’s came to visit me and our Relief as they had word that a Sentinel was struck in the eye on the plaza. All was well, except for a most unusual guard change…..OOORAHH!!!. 

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