Captain John A. Griffith III, USMC, Retired passed away January 20, 2019 peacefully, surrounded by his loving family. He was born January 2, 1932 in Washington, D. C. Captain Griffith was a career Marine with 24 years of service and was a veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He served in the 1st Marine Division and the 1st Marine Air Wing.
His decorations and awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with “V”, Army Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation. Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal w/3 stars, Korean Service Medal with 2 stars, Vietnam Service Medal with 2 stars, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, South Korean Presidential Citation, Unit Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, United Nations medal, South Vietnamese Campaign Medal, and the Korean Campaign Service Medal. Following his retirement from the Marine Corps in March of 1973, Captain Griffith earned his BA degree from the University of North Florida and graduated with distinction in December 1976.
He then directed various employment and training programs in Jacksonville, including the Minority Veterans Employment Program, One Stop Jobs and Education Center, Senior Citizens and Handicapped Employment Program, and the initial centralized intake and employment center with the city of Jacksonville. He then served as the Deputy Division Chief of the Training and Development Division. He was appointed in 1987 as the Executive Director of the Private Industry Council (PIC) of Jacksonville, Florida and as a Senior Aide to the Mayor of Jacksonville.
During his tenure, the PIC of Jacksonville was awarded the highest performance/incentive award by the State of Florida, and was awarded the Distinguished Program Performance award for the best Summer Youth program in the nation by the National Alliance of Business. Although many military chaplains tried to convert him, in 2012 he converted to catholism after Father Victor of Sacred Heart Church connected with him spiritually. John carefully counted and cherished his blessings every day.
He retired in June 1995 to pursue his goals of spoiling his grandchildren, traveling, and attending numerous Marine Corps reunions and events; he was successful in all of these endeavors! Captain Griffith is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Elena, four grown children, Mary (Les) Jackson of Key West, FL, Carmelita (Bruce) Reagan of Jacksonville, FL, John IV (Lizanne) Griffith of Roswell, GA, Michael Griffith (Vicki) of Fleming Island, FL; grandchildren, David Jackson, Katelyn and Michael Griffith, Maria King, Katrina Sample, Elizabeth Griffith, Amy Caldwell, Erin Wright, Stephanie McGuckin, Michelle Swafford; and great grandchildren, Charlotte, Caroline, Jimmy, Ethan, Sarah, Danielle, Caroline, Kelsee, Connor, Zachary, and Kelin. He also leaves behind extended family and friends of many loved persons who contributed to his wonderful life.
He was a kind, gentle, generous and loving father and a man who never met a stranger. He loved the Marine Corps and lived the motto of God, country and family to its fullest. As he often told his family whenever they had gathered together, “We had a ball!
”, and we certainly did. Semper Fi, Dad. A celebration of his life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, February 4, 2019 in the Jacksonville Memory Gardens Chapel.
A Graveside service with full Marine Corps honors will be at 2:30 p.m., Monday, February 4, 2019 at Jacksonville National Cemetery 4083 Lannie Rd. , Jacksonville, FL 32218. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Northeast Florida Community Hospice Foundation.
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