Since 2001, 1857 U.S. troops have died while serving in Afghanistan, and since 2003, 4484 U.S. troops have died while serving in Iraq.
The IGTNT (I Got The News Today) series is a reminder that nearly every day, somebody gets the heartbreaking news that a friend, former classmate, or beloved family member will not be coming home from war.
Tonight we remember a Marine Reservist
killed in action in Afghanistan:
Maj. Samuel M. Griffith, 36, of Virginia Beach, Virginia
Please take a moment below to remember him,
and all those who have lost their lives in these wars.
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine Corp reservist and family man on his third tour of duty:
Maj. Samuel M. Griffith, 36, of Virginia Beach, Virgina
Maj. Griffith died December 14 after being shot in the head during a combat patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He served as a forward air controller assigned to 4th Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, Marine Forces Reserve, based in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Heartbroken family members and friends along the southeast coast are mourning the loss of an Marine and Aviator who they also knew as a father, husband, son, brother, and grandson.
Griffith's mother said her son had a passion to serve his country and his community.
"He was doing what he loved. That was his gift. That was his passion," she said.
TCPalm news
Major Griffith’s home was in Virginia Beach with his wife and two young sons, but he was assigned to a unit at 4th Anglico in West Palm Beach, Florida. He had been in the reserves for about three years, traveling as needed between Florida and Virginia Beach. His mother and her husband live in Jupiter, Florida, where Maj. Griffith always stayed when he reported to duty in South Florida.
TCPalm news
Sam Griffith's hometown is Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, near Camp LeJuene, where his father still lives. Sam was an Eagle Scout who grew up dreaming of becoming an astronaut, and going to flight school and being a military pilot. He graduated from Enloe High School in Raleigh in 1993, and joined the Naval ROTC program at Penn State University.
When Sam Griffith graduated from Penn State in 1997, he was commissioned in the Marine Corps, where he trained as a pilot. He met his future wife, Cassandra, as a student at Penn State University. They married shortly after he returned from flight school Pensacola.
Maj. Griffith flew F-18s with All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 based in Beaufort, S.C., and also worked as an instructor for forward air controllers. Griffith was promoted to the rank of major in 2009. He deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan while on active duty.
Maj. Griffith received a series of awards and decorations, including two Air Medals and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal. About two years ago, he became an inactive reservist in the Forward Air Control Unit for 4th Anglico.
news observer
Major Griffith arrived in Afghanistan less than a month ago with the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He volunteered earlier this year to go to Afghanistan as a forward air controller, identifying enemy targets and calling in aircraft. He was one of 17 members from his 230 member Marine Reserve unit deployed in Afghanistan.
TCPalm news
Major Griffith was the officer in charge of his attachment, according Lt. Col. Aaron Marx at 4th Anglico.
"He was extremely proficient at his job, one of the best I've ever known," Lt. Col. Marx said. "He was excited to go and participate in the Marine Corps' mission."
Marx added, Griffith "was the best America had to offer. He was a very dedicated Marine and deeply committed family man."
cbs12 news
His father said Sam yearned to return to the cockpit of an F-18 Hornet.
"He just told me about a month ago he said, 'you know when I come back from this tour,' he said, 'I think I'm going to jump back in the airplane. I think I've done the other thing I need to do, now I need to fly again,'" Maj. Griffith's father said.
cbs12 news
news observer
"He loved his family," his mother said. "He was very kind, considerate, compassionate and had a great sense of humor."
"(Griffith) was a very considerate man and a Godly man," said his mother. "He lived by faith. Anyone who knew him, loved him. "
Treasure Coast Palm news
wtkr news reports that Major Griffith's wife Cassandra and two sons, Chad and Noah, are devastated. The boys are taking their father's death very hard.
"It was very heart wrenching,” says Pastor Andy Meade.
Over the last seven years, Major Griffith’s family attended Vineyard Community Church in Virginia Beach and they were very active members. Meade says the fallen Marine didn't just serve his country, he was also serving the community.
"He was always serving the community, serving people, was just a tremendous father to his two boys and to his wife.
Among those Maj. Griffith leaves behind are his wife and two young sons, his father, mother and step father, two sisters a brother, and three grandparents.
Maj. Sam Griffith is missed. May he rest in Peace.
* * *
Thanks to Timroff for our faithfully lighted candle IGTNT logo;
Other Photos by CalNM and linked Sources
Helping our troops: If you wish to assist our military and their families, consider Operation Helmet, or sponsoring a deployed service member at TroopCarePackage.com. Fisher House provides housing for families of injured troops and veterans who are recovering in hospitals, and Guardian angels for soldierspet assists the animal companions of our deployed military.
When our veterans come back home, they can find support at Welcome Back Veterans. Our recently returned veterans need jobs, and Veterans Green Jobs is now hiring for positions and filling training sessions. VGJ corps retrains veterans as leaders in forest and resource conservation, green construction, and energy efficient upgrades of homes in rural areas. Encourage a Veteran, and see if you can help out.
+ * * * + * * * + * * * + * * * + * * * + * * * + * * * + * * * + * * * + * * * +
About the IGTNT series: I Got the News Today is intended to honor, respect, and remember the fallen, and to remind us that each casualty has family and friends who received the terrible news that their loved one has died at war. Diaries about the fallen usually appear two days after their names are officially released, which allows time for the IGTNT team to find and tell their stories. The US Department of Defense news releases are found at defense gov/releases. Icasualties lists the names of those killed, and shows the number of wounded. Published AP photos of the returning war fatalities are found on the Dover AFB page. Click the IGTNT tags below for previous diaries in the series which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by monkeybiz, noweasels, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, a girl in MI, Spam Nunn, JeNoCo, Janos Nation, True Blue Majority, Proud Mom and Grandma, Sandy on Signal, Wide Awake in Kentucky, Ms Wings, maggiejean, JaxDem, theFatLadySings, Ekaterin, and me, CalNM. These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but are an important service to those who have died, and show our community’s respect for our fallen brothers and sisters.
Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service members chronicled here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.