Rank Insignia Previous Honoree ID Next Honoree ID


   
honoree image
First Name: Donald

Last Name: Griswold Jr.

Birthplace: Bryan, Wise, TX, US

Gender: Male



Branch: Navy (present)

Rating:

Home of Record: IA
Middle Name: Thomas



Date of Birth: 08 July 1917

Date of Death: 07 June 1943 (Presumed)

MIA Date: 06 June 1942

Rank or Rate: Ensign

Years Served: 1941-1943
DONALD THOMAS GRISWOLD Jr.
'Don'

   
Engagements:
•  World War II (1941 - 1945)

Biography:

Donald Thomas Griswold, Jr.

Ensign, United States Naval Reserve

Distinguished Flying Cross

Donald Thomas "Don" Griswold Sr., and Margaret "Maggie" E. North married on 09 Jun 1915 in Austin, Travis, TX. Don Jr's siblings were Margaret Griswold Brown, James North, Mac, and Jack Edward Griswold. Mac died at age seven of Influenza and Pneumonia.

Don was a graduate of Clarinda High School where he played on the undefeated 1934 football team. After graduation he attended Iowa State College (Later Iowa State University) in Ames, IA where he won two letters as a member of the Iowa State football squad. He played first string in the offensive backfield as a half back in 1939-1940. In addition to sports Don belonged to Adelante Fraternity. Adelante men were musically and athletically inclined and devoted to the ideals of scholarship, fellowship and leadership. He was also a member of the Varsity "I" Club which was Iowa State's athletic fraternity. In addition to athletics, Don was also a scholar who majored in Agronomy. It isn't known if Don graduated from Iowa State. He was recorded in the 1940 Iowa State yearbook as a senior. However, he was also listed in the 1941 year book. According to the 1940 Clarinda, IA federal census Donald Jr had completed 3 yrs of college. While a student a Iowa State Don completed advanced pilot training courses under the Civil Aeronautics board supervision.

Don "T" enlisted in the US Naval Reserve Flight Training (V-5) program (NSN:411-48-35) on 24 Feb 1941 at the Naval Reserve Air Base (NRAB), Kansas City, Kansas as a Seaman 2/c. The same day he began a 30 day temporary active duty period of Elimination Flight Training (E-base) that required a successful, short solo flight. He completed E-base on 23 Mar 1941 and transferred that day to Naval Air Station, (NAS) Jacksonville, FL to await an aviation cadet class opening at NAS Pensacola. On 3 April, S2c Griswold transferred to NAS Pensacola, FL where he was discharged from enlisted status to accept an appointment as an Aviation Cadet (AVCAD). The next day, 04 April 1941 Griswold took the oath of office and accepted the appointment as an AVCAD. His date of rank as an AVCAD was 01 April 1941.

After four months of flight instruction in Pensacola, Griswold was transferred to NAS Miami on 21 Aug 1941 for carrier aircraft training. He probably earned his designation as a naval aviator (heavier-than-air) #8814 in later Sept. Several weeks later (prob mid-Oct) after he finished advanced flight instruction he was commissioned an Ensign, AV-(N), USNR. He was placed on active duty status other than training and was assigned to Advanced Carrier Training Group, Atlantic Fleet, for duty involving flying. Griswold continued his training until joining Scout-Bombing Squadron Eight (VS-8) embarked on the USS Hornet (CV-8) probably as early as Feb 1942.

The aircraft carrier USS Hornet was commissioned on 20 Oct 1941 and began a number of extensive shakedown training periods in the vicinity of Norfolk, then in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Those operations would last until 02 Feb 1942 when she returned to Norfolk. During the next month the Hornet and her Air Group Eight (AG-8) prepared for deployment to the Pacific. On 04 Mar 1942, Hornet sailed for San Diego arriving on 20 Mar. Hornet then steamed to Alameda Air Station where she loaded 16 Army B-25 Mitchell bombers onto her flight deck. Hornet sailed from San Francisco on 2 April 1942 and steamed to Pearl Harbor, HI arriving on 06 April. The Hornet in company with the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) got underway on 08 April 1942 and steamed westward into history launching the Doolittle Raid on Japan on 18 April. Hornet returned to Pearl Harbor a week later for replenishment and refueling before departing five days later steaming to the South Pacific to support the carriers Lexington and Yorktown in operations against the Japanese.

Unfortunately, Hornet did not arrive in time to participate in the battle of the Coral Sea. She was rerouted to other operations and didn't return to Pearl Harbor until 26 May 1942. She was in port only two days before she got underway for Midway on 28 May. On the morning of June 4, 1942 the USS Hornet's air group led by CDR Stanhope Ring, launched their planes to locate and attack the Japanese Carrier Force that was approaching Midway. Only the Hornet's Torpedo Squadron Eight (VT-8) found the enemy. All 15 torpedo planes were shot down and 29 of the 30 pilots and their crews were killed in action. The rest of Hornet's squadrons never did engage the enemy that day. They became known as "the flight to nowhere."

On the morning of the third day of the Battle of Midway, 6 Jun 1942, fourteen planes from the Hornet's VS-8 led by squadron commander Lcdr. Walt Rodee took off with other planes of Hornet's air group and aircraft from the USS Enterprise (CV-6) to attack the heavy cruisers Mogami and Mikuma and two escorting Japanese destroyers that were part of the Japanese forces sent to capture the Midway Atoll. During the subsequent attack Ens Griswold was credited with a bomb hit on the Mogami, but was himself hit by anti-aircraft fire. His plane was seen smoking as it descended toward the ocean below. Ens. Griswold and his gunner, ARM1 Kenneth Bunch, were assumed killed in the ensuing crash. According to the USS Hornet's after-action report dated 13 Jun 1942, Ens. Griswold and ARM1 Kenneth Cecil Bunch were listed as missing in action on 06 Jun 1942. Their remains were unrecoverable. They were presumed dead on 07 Jun 1943. Ens. Griswold was awarded (posthumously) the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, American Campaign Medal, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one battle star and the World War II Victory Medal.

Distinguished Flying Cross Citation:

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Don T. Griswold, Ensign, United States Naval Reserve, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot of a Scouting Plane, in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Battle of Midway on 6 June 1942. Participating in persistent bombing and strafing attacks against fleeing enemy forces, Ensign Griswold, with utter disregard for his own personal safety, pressed home his attack with calm courage and vigorous determination, until shot down by a fierce barrage of anti-aircraft fire. By his fearless loyalty and uncompromising devotion to duty on this occasion, he contributed materially to the victory achieved by our forces, conducting himself in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service and gallantly gave up his life in the service of his country.

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 312 (March 1943)

His family also received a commemoration from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It reads: In grateful memory of Donald Thomas Griswold, who died in the service of his country, SEA, Pacific Area, ATTACHED U.S.S. HORNET, 7 JUNE 1943 (Presumed). He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, he lives -- in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.

(Signed) Franklin D. Roosevelt,

President of the United States

-------------------------------------

Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, morning edition, Sunday, April 25, 1943

Destroyer Escorts Named for Iowans

Washington, D.C. (UP) - Three destroyer escort ships to be launched soon by the U.S. Navy have been named in honor of Iowans who have given their lives in this war, the Navy Department announced Saturday.

The USS Sellstrom will honor the late Ensign Edward Robert Sellstrom, Rockwell City, Ia., who received the Navy Cross as a pilot on an aircraft carrier early in the war. Sellstrom was born in 1916 at Dayton, Ia.

The second ship, the USS Bunch, will be named after the late Kenneth Cecil Bunch, aviation radioman first class, Pershing, Ia., who was killed in action last June in a diving attack on a Japanese ship.

Ensign Don T. Griswold, Clarinda, Ia., who was awarded posthumously the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery, will be honored at the naming of the third ship, the USS Griswold. Griswold was cited for his work in the battle of Midway.

-----------------------------

USS Griswold (DE-7) was named in honor of Ens. Griswold. The first Griswold was a former name that was retained. The second Griswold (DE-7) was an Evarts-class short-hull destroyer escort launched 28 April 1943 at the Boston Navy Yard; sponsored by Mrs. Don T. Griswold, mother of Ens. Griswold; and commissioned the same day, Lt. Comdr. Charles M. Lyons in command. In July 1943 she headed to the Pacific area via the Panama Canal. Immediately pressed into service, she escorted convoys through the South Pacific, until April 1944. On 12 September she conducted a 4-hour attack on a Japanese submarine off Guadalcanal ; and, although debris and an oil slick rose to the surface, she was not credited with a kill.

Undaunted, Griswold struck again 3 months later and this time recorded a kill. At 2200 on the night of 23 December, patrolling off Lunga Point, Guadalcanal, she was dispatched to investigate a periscope sighting. Alert sonar operators picked up the contact immediately, and held it for the next 5 hours as the determined DE conducted attack after attack on the elusive Japanese raider. Oil slicks and air bubbles after the sixth and seventh attacks told Griswold that her quarry was hit-this was confirmed shortly before 0300 on 24 December when a periscope poked out of the water. Griswold charged in for her eighth attack, laying a lethal pattern of twelve depth charges. A heavy oil slick dotted with debris rose to the surface, and the tenacious ship and crew were credited with sinking I-39.

After overhaul at Mare Island, the escort ship returned to the Pacific theater on 3 June 1944 to escort convoys and participate in training exercises out of Pearl Harbor well into 1945. From 12 March to 6 May 1945, she remained on station at Eniwetok as flagship for Commander Task Group 96.3 under Comdr. T. F. Fowler. The long Pacific campaign was moving into its final phase that spring as American forces invaded Okinawa, a short step from the Japanese home islands; and Griswold soon moved up to the front.

Reaching Okinawa on 27 May, Griswold immediately took up station on the ASW screen, and was shortly rewarded with two kamikaze kills, 31 May and 5 June. The second of those would-be kamikazes dived on Griswold; but she evaded him and the marauder exploded into the ocean so close that fragments of the Japanese plane showered over her. That same day two other American ships were seriously damaged by kamikazes as Japan made her desperate, and futile, effort to reverse the tide of war.

On 29 June Griswold departed Okinawa, escorting a convoy to Leyte Gulf, Philippines, and continuing on to Ulithi for screening work. At war's end she sailed triumphantly into Japanese waters, anchoring in Tokyo Bay on 10 September. Embarking passengers for stateside, Griswold cleared Tokyo 6 days later and arrived San Pedro, Calif., 8 October via Eniwetok and Pearl Harbor. She decommissioned there 19 November 1945 and was struck from the Navy List 5 December. The hulk was sold to Dulien Steel Products, Seattle, Wash., for scrapping 27 November 1946.

Griswold received three battle stars for World War II service.

Source: Navy History and Heritage Command online database.

----------------------------------------

Combat Action Ribbon (CR) note:

None of the Navy/Marine flight crews in the Battle of Midway were eligible for or were awarded the Combat Action Ribbon (CR). See Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual (SECNAVINST M-1650.1 of 16 Aug 2019, Appendix 2C.1.c (3) Amplifying Guidance). It reads in part, “The CR will not be awarded in connection with aerial flight, . . . “ The CR was established in 1969 and made retroactive to 07 Dec 1941. According to the Awards Manual, when deemed appropriate, the award for aerial combat is the Air Medal.

----------------------------------------

See ARM1 Kenneth C. Bunch Military Hall of Honor #89108

[Bio #51 composed by Gerry Lawton (GML470)]



Honoree ID: 93242   Created by: MHOH

Ribbons


Medals


Badges


Honoree Photos

honoree imagehonoree imagehonoree image

honoree imagehonoree image

honoree image

Remembrances


Tributes