World War II KIA LST 577 MIA William C Griffin 39910847 April 10, 1923 – February 11, 1945 WW2 WWII

[historyfixer]

World War II KIA LST 577 MIA William C Griffin 39910847 April 10, 1923 – February 11, 1945

He joined the army March 3, 1943. He would have done his basic training and then he would have been assigned to the 651st Tank Destroyer Battalion at Fort Hood Texas. (651st Tank Destroyer Battalion was established on March 13, 1943 and was disbanded May 29, 1944). After the 651^st Tank Destroyer Battalion was disbanded he was sent to the 140^th Infantry Regiment. He was at Camp Howze Texas. After this unit he was most-likely assigned to the 279th Replacement Company. And transferred to the south Pacific. He was going to be a Replacement for one of the men who was Killed or wounded from the Battle of Leyte (I Think). He was on the LST 577 going to land on Leyte and then be assigned to a permeant unit. He would not have seen combat yet.

On Sunday morning, 11 February 1945 LST 577 was torpedoed by Japanese submarine RO 50, east of Mindanao, off the Philippine Islands while in a reinforcement convoy proceeding from Hollandia to Leyte. ... The explosion occurred just aft of the auxiliary engine room and broke the ship in two. Part of the aft frame sank immediately. The forward section remained afloat. ... Over 166 Sailors and soldiers were lost.

 

 

 

 

My newest find this weekend I was not able to get the paper items, dog tags, dui, and Purple Heart from the family even thought I offered above retail for them, but I got this awesome Bag of stuff.

 

The bag has the name Cpl. Ernest P. Graton 37024682 scratched out and is stamped G 0847 the last 4 numbers of William C Griffin 39910847 service number. It also has the postage tag on it.

In the bag are ww2 shoes, leggings, 2 shoes laces, one pants stamped G 0847, two shirts one with the 23^rd Corp patch and t 5 patches stamped G 0847 on it. A flash light. The cardboard paper stencil of his name and service number. Wound Tablets. 4 Tec/5 Patches and one tanker patch. The belt without the belt buckles a clipboard and some clear plastic.

 

 

[historyfixer]

[historyfixer]

[Milkshake]

That is a nice grouping.

[historyfixer]

The bag and Tag

[historyfixer]

And what I did not get

 

[historyfixer]

Thank you Milkshake. I moved to Salt lake city in mid may and this is the 3rd KIA grouping that I have found.

[Milkshake]

You are lucky, I just don't know where to look!

[stealthytyler]

I can't believe families sell this stuff......

[Milkshake]

I can't believe families sell this stuff......

My mind completely everytime I see a grouping.

[manayunkman]

Nice group.

 

It is very much the nature of a family these days to not care about things they don't care about.

 

Obviously with this family that didn't apply to the PH.

 

It has more of a personal nature with it being named.

 

Someone in the family has an emotional attachment to it.

[historyfixer]

Milkshake I just do the rounds for every 10 estate sales I find something good for every about 100 estate sales I find something great.

 

Stealthytyler From what I normally see is the families normally only let go the stuff that is not personal. A bag of old close that take up room of a man that is there great uncle and they never met makes since. Also they keep the dog tags medals and paper make since as well.

The thing I get told way to often at estate sales that are ran by the family is that they had great uncle so and so medals and they threw them away. That is when I tell them what the full retail value of the medals are and they normally fill stupid for the wrong reason that they throw away something worth that much money.

 

Manayunkman I completely agree with you.

[zotig111]

historyfixer,

What is the patch on the uniform? Trying to figure out the connection here.

Thanks,

[historyfixer]

23rd Corp from when he was in Texas.

[zotig111]

Thanks

[DDay29]

Thanks for sharing this very nice grouping. Rest in Peace T/5 Griffin

[historyfixer]

http://worldwartwoveterans.org/griffin-william-c-39910847-us-army-kia-mia-pto-killed-in-action-february-11-1945-missing-in-action-salt-lake-city-utah/?fbclid=IwAR2iwtl2XOZgBQLRfT3IgWdrCMV09-VTz8P4lw5Bsly1jlx9M3f61xAAUG8