Fallen Soldier: Samuel M. Griffith

Major Samuel M. Griffith, 36, of Virginia Beach, Va., was assigned to the 4th Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, Marine Forces Reserve at West Palm Beach, Fla. On December 14, 2011, Maj. Griffith was killed while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Maj. Griffith attended Penn State University, and upon graduation in 1997, was commissioned into the Marine Corps. In 2000 he earned his wings. He flew F/A-18D’s and instructed Forward Air Controllers (FAC).

Maj. Griffith’s awards include the Purple Heart, the Air Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon and the National Defense Service Medal, among many others for his service.

Maj. Griffith loved his family, faith and country; his passion was to serve. “He went out protecting his men,” his brother said. “In his death and everything he was to me – the hero he was to me, the role model he was to me, the big brother he was to me – he was the inspiration for me to join the military.”

Both of Maj. Griffith’s sons are Folds of Honor Scholarship recipients.