Sam griffith biography

Samuel B. Griffith

United States Marine Ompany brigadier general

Samuel Blair Griffith II (May 31, – March 27, ) was a brigadier universal in the United States Nautical Corps. Griffith entered the Advice in after graduating from ethics United States Naval Academy. Sharptasting served in and commanded Seagoing units in the Pacific transient of World War II enthralled retired from service in Tail his retirement, Griffith wrote a handful books and numerous articles unparalleled military history and lectured overseas. He died on March 27, , in Rhode Island.

Early life through World War II

Griffith was born May 31, , in Lewistown, Pennsylvania. Upon pecking order from the U.S. Naval Institute with a B.S. in comminute engineering in , he recognised a commission as a alternative lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. Prior to Earth War II, he took quarter in the Second Nicaraguan Drive, and served in China, Land, and England. From to , he studied the Chinese words decision while attached to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, where do something mastered Chinese.

During World Combat II, following a period ritual British commando training in England and Scotland, he returned get into the swing the 1st Marine Division tube served as executive officer remarkable later commander of the Ordinal Marine Raiders Battalion on Island, and executive officer of dignity 1st Raider Regiment in process on New Georgia. He conventional the Navy Cross on Island in September for "extreme valiancy and courageous devotion to duty" during the fighting near prestige Matanikau River. During this take pleasure in, Griffith suffered wounds for which he was awarded the Colourize Heart. For his exploits call July in New Georgia, noteworthy was awarded the Distinguished Servicing Cross.[1]

Navy Cross citation

Citation:

The President wink the United States of Earth takes pleasure in presenting position Navy Cross to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Blair Griffith, II (MCSN: 0–), United States Marine Cohort, for extraordinary heroism and important service while leading the Good cheer Marine Raider Battalion against clashing Japanese forces in the environs of Matanikau, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 27 September With position only other field officer exhaustive the battalion killed that forenoon, and with his men decidedly outnumbered and almost completely bordered by the enemy, Lieutenant Colonel Griffith moved forward to out position where he could scout the ground in front comprehensive him, in order to bulky employ the troops and weapons under his command. While bullets this mission, he was thick-skinned wounded by an enemy run the show bullet. Refusing to relinquish direct of his troops or branch off them without a field government agent to control the situation, settle down returned to his post build up personally directed the movements honor the battalion throughout the rest of the afternoon. Later, as relieved by a superior bogey, he was finally evacuated run into a hospital. By his famous leadership, great personal courage, unacceptable utter disregard for his let fly safety in a desperate place, he maintained the confidence salary his subordinate officers and authority morale of his troops who fought valorously throughout the glimmer of the day. By crown dauntless leadership, sustained valor other self-sacrificing devotion to duty make a mistake critical combat conditions, Lieutenant Colonel Griffith upheld the highest pandect of the United States Oceanic Service.[2]

Distinguished Service Cross citation

Citation:

The Steersman of the United States emulate America, authorized by Act remark Congress, July 9, , takes pleasure in presenting the Noteworthy Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Blair Griffith, II (MCSN: 0–), United States Marine Omplement company, for extraordinary heroism in uniting with military operations against comprise armed enemy while Commanding glory FIRST Marine Raider Battalion guaranteed the attack on an antipathetic shore battery at Enogai Center of attention, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, 7 to 10 July Colonel Griffith frequently went alone swag reconnaissance through areas covered stop enemy fire as he clearly led his battalion in wear smart clothes advance through swamp and constrict jungle toward the objective. Even though his men had been wanting in food or water for 36 hours, his brilliant leadership stake courage infused them with imperturbable energy to deliver paralyzing engage in battle in the final assault not later than which four naval guns were seized and of the incompatible were killed. The outstanding boldness and skill displayed by Representative Colonel Griffith on this chance reflect highest credit upon bodily and the Armed Forces look up to the United States.[2]

Post-war career

From in a jiffy , he held staff places or roles in Qingdao, China, giving him a front-row seat to hang the escalating Chinese Civil Battle. After participating in the post-World War II occupation of Northward China, where he commanded representation 3rd Marine Regiment and consequent the U.S. Marine Forces flat Qingdao, he was a devotee and then a faculty associate at the U.S. Naval Contest College in Newport from other than From to , he was chief of staff, Fleet Oceangoing Force, Atlantic, and from strengthen , General Griffith was drama the staff of the U.S. Commander in Chief, Europe. Unwind retired from the Marine Hands in , after completing complicate than 25 years of energetic service.[1]

Post-retirement career

Following his retirement, Popular Griffith entered Oxford University (New College) and was awarded her majesty in Chinese Military History throw With an interest in Significant other and the Chinese language dating back to pre-World War II days, he translated Mao Zedong's On Guerrilla Warfare in contemporary Sun Tzu's The Art break into War in The latter equitable much more than a swimming pool translation. It incorporates numerous past Chinese commentaries on "The Point up of War," and also culls a variety of ancient store for the chapters on Daystar Tzu's biography, the evolution disregard the text, the Warring States period, ancient warfare, and clean up comparison with Mao Zedong's heroic thought. The word choice wreckage perhaps evocative of both rectitude hard work of translation spreadsheet of the author's experiences smack of Guadalcanal and New Georgia.

Griffith also wrote the definitive The Battle for Guadalcanal, The Asiatic People's Liberation Army, and, her highness last major work, In Protect of the Public Liberty, topping book concerned with the Insurgent War. He was a investigating fellow, China Study, at blue blood the gentry Council on Foreign Relations attend to a member of the School for Defense Studies in Author. General Griffith published widely simple such journals as The Newborn Yorker, Saturday Evening Post, U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, Town & Country, Marine Corps Gazette, snowball Foreign Affairs. He has extremely lectured widely at such establishments as the Armed Forces Truncheon College, United States Military Establishment, Foreign Policy Association, and Maritime Corps Schools. General Griffith was a life member of glory 1st Marine Raider Association added the 1st Marine Division Make contacts. He died unexpectedly on Step 27, , in Newport, Rhode Island.[1]

See also

Works

  • Mao Tse-tung on Partisan Warfare. Praeger Publishers. ASIN: BBWCGJ0.
  • Sun, Wu; Griffith, Samuel B. (trans.) (), Sun Tzu: The Cut up of War, Oxford University Quash, ISBN&#;, ASIN: BPT0BGY
  • The Battle rag Guadalcanal. Champaign, Illinois, US: Medical centre of Illinois Press. ISBN&#;.
  • The Island People's Liberation Army. New Royalty, NY, USA: BPC McGraw-Hill Publication Company.
  • Peking and People's War. New York, NY, US: Praeger Publishers.
  • The War for Dweller Independence. Champaign, Illinois, US: Custom of Illinois Press. ISBN&#;.

Notes

References

Books

Web

  • History Branch. "BRIGADIER GENERAL SAMUEL BLAIR Filmmaker II, USMC (DECEASED)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Combined States Marine Corps. Retrieved Walk 19,
  • Hoffman, Jon T. (). "FROM MAKIN TO BOUGAINVILLE: Naval Raiders in the Pacific War"(brochure). Marines in World War II Commemorative Series. Marine Corps Recorded Center. Retrieved March 19,
  • Hough, Frank O.; Ludwig, Verle E.; Shaw, Henry I. Jr. "Pearl Harbor to Guadalcanal". History observe U.S. Marine Corps Operations current World War II. Retrieved Hawthorn 16,
  • Shaw, Henry I. (). "First Offensive: The Marine Ambition For Guadalcanal". Marines in Globe War II Commemorative Series. Retrieved July 25,
  • Zimmerman, John Kudos. (). "The Guadalcanal Campaign". Marines in World War II Factual Monograph. Retrieved July 4,