The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Third Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Chester Willis Griffin, Jr. (AFSN: FR-63861), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 Thunderchief Pilot of the 333d Tactical Fighter Squadron, Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, in action over North Vietnam on 26 September 1967. On that date, Captain Griffin was the force commander of a strike force directed against an important and heavily defended rail yard and railroad bridge complex. The force was persistently engaged by MiG fighters prior to reaching their target, but Captain Griffin provided such professional leadership that they engaged the MiG’s without damage to any aircraft. Captain Griffin then led his lone flight to the target with full regard for the hostile environment and destroyed it. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Griffin reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Defense Superior Service Medal
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Legion of Merit
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Silver Star
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
333d Tactical Fighter SquadronDivision:
Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, ThailandAction Date:
July 17, 1967
Headquarters, Pacific Air Force, Special Orders G-2136 (November 30, 1967)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” to Captain Chester Willis Griffin, Jr. (AFSN: FR-63861), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 Thunderchief Pilot of the 333d Tactical Fighter Squadron, Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, in action over North Vietnam on 17 July 1967. On that date, Captain Griffin was directed on a flak suppression mission as part of a strike force against an important and highly defended railroad yard. Despite his leader being hit and another aircraft in the flight completely destroyed, Captain Griffin rolled in through the intense flak to suppress the weapons that would threaten the main strike force. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Griffin reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
333d Tactical Fighter SquadronDivision:
Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, ThailandAction Date:
October 24, 1967
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Fourth Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fifth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” to Captain Chester Willis Griffin, Jr. (AFSN: FR-63861), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 Thunderchief Pilot of the 333d Tactical Fighter Squadron, Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, in action over North Vietnam on 24 October 1967. On that date, Captain Griffin was the commander of the first bomb flight executed against a vital and previously un-struck airfield. In spite of adverse weather and intense flak, his professional leadership enabled the force to successfully strike the target. After the attack, he led his flight through barrages of surface-to-air missiles without damage to any of his aircraft. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Griffin reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
333d Tactical Fighter SquadronDivision:
Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, ThailandAction Date:
August 24, 1967
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Chester Willis Griffin, Jr. (AFSN: FR-63861), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 Thunderchief Pilot of the 333d Tactical Fighter Squadron, Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, in action over North Vietnam on 24 August 1967. On that date, Captain Griffin was directed on a flak suppression mission as part of a strike force against an important and heavily defended railroad yard. Captain Griffin’s aircraft was hit by an intense burst of flak as he approached the target, but without hesitation he risked his own life by diving his damaged aircraft through the barrages of flak to deliver his ordnance on the weapons sites threatening the strike force. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Griffin reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.
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Defense Superior Service Medal
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
ColonelAction Date:
August 1986 – July 1989
Under the provisions of Department of Defense 1348.33-M, the Secretary of Defense of the United States of America takes pleasure in awarding the Defense Superior Service Medal to Colonel Chester Willis Griffin, Jr. (AFSN: FR-63861), United States Air Force, for exceptionally superior service to the Department of Defense as Director of Senate Liaison, Congressional Relations, Defense Security Assistance Agency, from August 1986 to July 1989. Principally concerned with the security assistance program, Colonel Griffin applied an ideal mix of broad military experience, political sensitivity and international perspective as he worked closely with the United States Senate Committees on the Budget, Armed Services, and Foreign Relations and the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations. Colonel Griffin’s ceaseless efforts to provide timely, accurate information on critically important international security issues often resulted in Congressional support that would not have otherwise existed. His total dedication to task and his achievements in this endeavor have made major contributions to the attainment of United States national security and foreign policy. The distinctive accomplishments of Colonel Griffin reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Air Force, and the Department of Defense.
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Legion of Merit
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
ColonelAction Date:
June 18, 1979 – June 30, 1981
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Colonel Chester Willis Griffin, Jr. (AFSN: FR-63861), United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States while assigned to the Directorate of Programs and Evaluation, Deputy Chief of Staff, Programs and Resources, Headquarters United States Air Force from 18 June 1979 to 30 June 9181. During this period, the exemplary ability, dedication and devotion to duty of Colonel Griffin were instrumental factors in the resolution of complex problems associated with the development of the Air Force Program. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Colonel Griffin and his dedicated contributions in the service of his country reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
333d Tactical Fighter SquadronDivision:
Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, ThailandAction Date:
June 10, 1967
Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Orders G-1253 (August 19, 1967), Amended by G-1749 (1967)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Chester Willis Griffin, Jr. (AFSN: FR-63861), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 Thunderchief Pilot of the 333d Tactical Fighter Squadron, Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, in action over North Vietnam on 10 June 1967. On that date, Captain Griffin’s mission was flak suppression in the target area of an important and highly defended railyard. As he prepared for his bomb run, Captain Griffin located several flak sites threatening the strike force from a revetted area near an airfield adjacent to the target. Realizing the lucrative nature of the area, Captain Griffin rolled in and placed his ordnance directly on target. Besides the suppression of a serous threat to the bomb flights, post-strike photography confirmed the destruction of six MiG aircraft. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Griffin reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.
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Silver Star
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
333d Tactical Fighter SquadronDivision:
Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, ThailandAction Date:
September 30, 1967
Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Order G-226 (January 19, 1968)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Chester Willis Griffin, Jr. (AFSN: FR-63861), United States Air Force, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force as an F-105 Pilot of the 333d Tactical Fighter Squadron, Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, in action over North Vietnam on 30 September 1967. On that date, Captain Griffin was the force commander of a strike force executed against an important and heavily defended airfield. In spite of adverse weather and intense flak, his professional leadership enabled the force to successfully strike their target. After the attack, he went back into the target area to locate a badly damaged fighter and defensed him from pursuing hostile fighters. His subsequent efforts to provide emergency assistance enabled the damaged aircraft to refuel just prior to flaming out and recover at an alternate base. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Captain Griffin has reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.