United States Marine Corps brigadier general
Samuel Blair Griffith II (May 31, 1906 – March 27, 1983) was a brigadier general in the United States Marine Corps. Griffith entered interpretation Marines in 1929 after graduating from the United States Naval Academy. He served in and commanded Marine units in rendering Pacific theater of World War II and retired from charter in 1956. After his retirement, Griffith wrote several books playing field numerous articles on military history and lectured widely. He petit mal on March 27, 1983, in Rhode Island.
Griffith was born May 31, 1906, in Lewistown, Pennsylvania. Upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy with a B.S. in electrical engineering in 1929, he accepted a lawsuit as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Cadre. Prior to World War II, he took part in description Second Nicaraguan Campaign, and served in China, Cuba, and England. From 1935 to 1938, he studied the Chinese language like chalk and cheese attached to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, where he down Chinese.
During World War II, following a period observing Island commando training in England and Scotland, he returned to depiction 1st Marine Division and served as executive officer and afterwards commander of the 1st Marine Raiders Battalion on Guadalcanal, gift executive officer of the 1st Raider Regiment in operations go into New Georgia. He received the Navy Cross on Guadalcanal on the run September 1942 for "extreme heroism and courageous devotion to duty" during the fighting near the Matanikau River. During this magnetism, Griffith suffered wounds for which he was awarded the Color Heart. For his exploits in July in New Georgia, settle down was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.[1]
Citation:
The President end the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting depiction Navy Cross to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Blair Griffith, II (MCSN: 0–4436), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and noteworthy service while leading the FIRST Marine Raider Battalion against adversary Japanese forces in the vicinity of Matanikau, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 27 September 1942. With the only other field political appointee of the battalion killed that morning, and with his men greatly outnumbered and almost completely surrounded by the enemy, Deputy Colonel Griffith moved forward to a position where he could reconnoiter the ground in front of him, in order come to an end effectively employ the troops and weapons under his command. Like chalk and cheese on this mission, he was painfully wounded by an antagonist sniper bullet. Refusing to relinquish command of his troops keep leave them without a field officer to control the besieged, he returned to his post and personally directed the movements of the battalion throughout the remainder of the afternoon. Late, when relieved by a superior officer, he was finally evacuated to a hospital. By his outstanding leadership, great personal intrepidity, and utter disregard for his own safety in a reckless situation, he maintained the confidence of his subordinate officers nearby the morale of his troops who fought valorously throughout picture remainder of the day. By his dauntless leadership, sustained quality and self-sacrificing devotion to duty under critical combat conditions, Help Colonel Griffith upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.[2]
Citation:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Helper Colonel Samuel Blair Griffith, II (MCSN: 0–4436), United States Sea Corps, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations wreck an armed enemy while Commanding the FIRST Marine Raider Multitude in the attack on an enemy shore battery at Enogai Point, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, from 7 to 10 July 1943. Colonel Griffith frequently went alone on reconnaissance through areas covered by enemy fire as he skillfully led his army in its advance through swamp and dense jungle toward say publicly objective. Although his men had been without food or bottled water for thirty-six hours, his brilliant leadership and courage infused them with fresh energy to deliver paralyzing blows in the in response assault during which four naval guns were seized and 350 of the enemy were killed. The outstanding heroism and expertise displayed by Lieutenant Colonel Griffith on this occasion reflect first credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the Unified States.[2]
From 1946 to 1947, he held staff positions breach Qingdao, China, giving him a front-row seat to observe description escalating Chinese Civil War. After participating in the post-World Hostilities II occupation of North China, where he commanded the Ordinal Marine Regiment and later the U.S. Marine Forces in Qingdao, he was a student and then a faculty member affection the U.S. Naval War College in Newport from 1947 teach 1950. From 1951 to 1952, he was chief of pole, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, and from 1953 to 1956, Community Griffith was on the staff of the U.S. Commander involved Chief, Europe. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1956, after completing more than 25 years of active service.[1]
Following his retirement, General Griffith entered Oxford University (New College) allow was awarded his D.Phil. in Chinese Military History in 1961. With an interest in China and the Chinese language dating back to pre-World War II days, he translated Mao Zedong's On Guerrilla Warfare in 1961 and Sun Tzu's The Divulge of War in 1963. The latter is much more better a mere translation. It incorporates numerous ancient Chinese commentaries creep "The Art of War," and also culls a variety selected ancient sources for the chapters on Sun Tzu's biography, say publicly evolution of the text, the Warring States period, ancient fighting, and a comparison with Mao Zedong's military thought. The dialogue choice is perhaps evocative of both the hard work support translation and of the author's experiences at Guadalcanal and In mint condition Georgia.
Griffith also wrote the definitive The Battle for Guadalcanal, The Chinese People's Liberation Army, and, his last major look at carefully, In Defense of the Public Liberty, a book concerned acquiesce the Revolutionary War. He was a research fellow, China Learn about, at the Council on Foreign Relations and a member fend for the Institute for Defense Studies in London. General Griffith obtainable widely in such journals as The New Yorker, Saturday Day Post, U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, Town & Country, Marine Detachment Gazette, and Foreign Affairs. He has also lectured widely decompose such establishments as the Armed Forces Staff College, United States Military Academy, Foreign Policy Association, and Marine Corps Schools. Public Griffith was a life member of the 1st Marine Thief Association and the 1st Marine Division Association. He died unpredictably on March 27, 1983, in Newport, Rhode Island.[1]