John Vincent Griffin was born on September 3, 1920 in Cherokee County, Texas. He was the son of Jonathan Griffin and Bertie L. Obar Griffin. On D-Day, 6 June 1944, Private First Class John Vincent Griffin was serving with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, First U.S. Army.

On that day, PFC Griffin’s unit was in action against German forces on Omaha Beach at Normandy, France. While L Company was pinned down on Omaha Beach by heavy German rifle, machine gun and artillery fire, PFC Griffin and 2 other men volunteered to open a gap in the barbed wire. Under intense fire, PFC Griffin cut his way through the wire, made his way through a minefield, marked a path for Company L to follow, and reached the base of a hill. From there, he laid down such accurate rifle fire on the German emplacements that they briefly ceased their own firing. This allowed L Company to move through the gap in the wire and the minefield and join him at the base of the hill. While this group directed frontal fire on the enemy, PFC Griffin moved out to the flank and, from an exposed position, directed more fire against the enemy. Again, the Germans were forced to cease firing long enough to permit the men from L Company to advance and successfully assault the enemy positions. Later in the same day the Germans counterattacked and PFC Griffin worked his way around them and engaged them from the flank. Despite the German's intense fire, PFC Griffin remained at his exposed position until the enemy counterattack was repulsed. PFC Griffin’s selfless, courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

While his unit was driving in a continuous offensive across France, PFC Griffin was killed in action on 7 August 1944.

Note

[Although his correct name is Griffin, U.S. Army documents display his name as Griffen (Griffin). The DSC citation is left that way in this document.]

Distinguished Service Cross 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 Private First Class John V. Griffen (Griffin) (ASN: 6958525), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company L, 3d Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 6 June 1944, in France. While his company was pinned down on the beach due to the heavy enemy rifle, machine gun and artillery fire, Private First Class Griffen with two other men volunteered to open a gap in the barbed wire. Under intense fire he cut his way through the wire and then picked his way through a minefield, marking a path for his company to follow and reached the base of a hill. From this point, he laid accurate rifle fire upon the enemy emplacements, forcing them to cease firing long enough to permit part of his company to move through the gap in the wire and the minefield and join him at the base of the hill. While this group directed frontal fire on the enemy, Private First Class Griffen moved out to the flank and from an exposed position directed his accurate fire against the enemy. Again, the enemy was forced to cease firing long enough to permit the men who had been delivering the frontal fire to advance and successfully assault the enemy positions. When, later in the same day, the enemy counterattacked, Private First Class Griffen worked his way around the enemy and engaged them from the flank. Despite intense enemy fire to dislodge him, Private First Class Griffen remained at his exposed position until the enemy counterattack was beaten off. Private First Class Griffen's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army. General Orders: Headquarters, First U.S. Army, General Orders No. 31 (July 1, 1944)
Source of information: www.findagrave.com, http://www.militaryhallofhonor.com/honoree-record.php?id=313392