Navy brass plaque USS Daniel T. Griffin DE-54

[Navy H46]

Requesting assistance locating this ships plaque for family.   It’s their grandfather.

Thanks fofrhelping,

CAPT Greg Thomas USN ( Ret)

Doherty Navy JROTC 

[Salvage Sailor]

Aloha Greg,

 

That would be a very rare original item as the GRIFFIN was only in commission for 3 years during WWII and although she did serve at Okinawa (as an APD) half of her service time was on Atlantic convoy escort duty before yard conversion from a DE to APD.  Unlike her sister ships, she was not assigned to occupation duty nor recommissioned for Korea/Cold War/Vietnam service which is when most brass plaques were made for naval vessels.

 

 

Daniel Thornburg Griffin, the son of Pearl Daniel Griffin and Pernia Myretta Thornburg Griffin, was born 25 March 1911 in Allendale, Ill. He enlisted in the Navy on 06 October 1930 and served in USS California (BB 44), USS Tennessee (BB 43) and USS Saratoga (CV 3). He graduated as a Naval Aviation Pilot in 1938 and was stationed at Pearl Harbor to fly patrol missions with water borne aircraft. On 07 December 1941 he was serving with Patrol Squadron 12 at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. He was shot down as he got airborne responding to Japanese attackers and killed by machine gun fire while swimming to shore.

 

Naval Aviation Pilot Daniel T. Griffin

Patrol Squadron 12, Kaneohe Bay, T.H.

First US casualty of World War II

 

Aviation Machinist's Mate First Class Griffin was posthumously awarded a Special Letter of Commendation by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet, for his prompt and efficient action and his utter disregard of personal danger in the defense of Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay. Interred at Pearl Harbor in 1941, his body was moved in 1947 to its' final resting place in Evergreen Cemetery at Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was recognized as the first American casualty in WWII.

 

Kaneohe Bay attack casualties laid to rest December 8th, 1941

USS DANIEL T GRIFFIN (DE 54 / APD 38) (1943-1946) was the first ship to be named in his honor.

 

[Navy H46]

Thank hou for the information. I was hoping for better news. We are in process of getting   Permanent recognition here in Colorado Springs with the commisdion of a 9 foot statue recognizing his status as first US casualty of Pearl Harbor attack. Doherty HS Navy JROTC already has historic murals gracing their “ Hall of Honor”. Daniel T Griffin Is a prominent mural along with his PBY and mural of his ship.  We were hoping for an official plaque from the WW2 vessel.

Doherty is now collecting ship and submarine plaques to add to the hall.

Thanks again for the information!

 

[29navy]

Have you checked with the Naval History and Heritage Command in DC? They hold the Navy's archives and maybe hey may have something from the ship.

[Navy H46]

Yes. No joy!

Also Destroyer Tin can assoc. There must no be one that was ever made!

But I invite you to Doherty HS Navy JROTC. Im collecting biggest collection of Ship, sub, aviation plaques in America. 160 plaques so far.  Its truly historic sering all this history in one place!

CAPT Thomas

[Navy H46]

Greetings.  Great info on Daniel T Griffin. Bridge being named in his honor in Colorado Springs.  Ironic!!! Bridge leads to Air Force Academy!!