Jeffrey Griffey
Sergeant First Class, United States Army
January 28, 1975 – December 7, 2012
Age – 37
Augusta, MI
Persian Gulf, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom
HQ Company, 782nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC
Died unexpectedly on Friday, December 7, 2012 at his home
Jeffrey Griffey was born on January 28, 1975 in Chicago, IL to Kenneth and Rusty (Agnes A. Moore) Griffey. The Ken Griffey family moved to Michigan, November 1, 1985. Jeff joined the U.S. Army in July of 1993 and completed his basic combat training and advanced individual training at Fort Hood, MO. He arrived at Fort Bragg’s 82nd Airborne Division in 2006, where he served as a senior maintenance noncommissioned officer in charge, platoon sergeant, maintenance supervisor, maintenance control sergeant and motor sergeant.
Jeff served on two combat deployments: he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003 to January 2004 and Operation Enduring Freedom from January to October 2007. He was currently serving as an air movement liaison with the 782nd Brigade Support, 4th Brigade Combat Team.
SFC Griffey deployed twice during his 19-year career, once to Iraq and most recently to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. At the time of his death he was serving as an air movement liaison with the 782nd Brigade Support, 4th Brigade Combat Team.
According to MSGT Jerry Hanshaw, who served as SFC Griffey’s first sergeant for almost three years, Jeff Griffey left a lasting impact on those who knew him. “He was a leader who led with passion and emotion,” said MSGT Hanshaw. SFC Griffey always went out of his way to ensure that his troopers were taken care of, and that he guarded them as if they were his own children.
SFC Holman was close to SFC Griffey personally and professionally. The two soldiers served together as jumpmasters in the division and SFC Griffey was the best man in SFC Holman’s wedding.
“As a friend, Jeff was the only guy I could always count on,” explained SFC Holman.
“What stood out most about Griffey was that he always remained positive, even in the worst of times. He had a great attitude because he was doing what he loved to do, which was being a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division.”
His mother – Agnes Griffey wrote about her son.
Jeff spent 19.5 years serving our country in the US Army. He was a Jumpmaster & Pathfinder. Deployed multiple times which included Iraq & Afghanistan.
He got injured in Afghanistan & sent to Germany for treatment. The best Neuro Surgeon were there working on our injured military. Sgt Griffey felt really bad about leaving his guys behind to fight the bad guys. Jeff’s injury was internal nerve & muscles damage. He had no open wounds but was there with those that had lost limbs, burn victims & head traumas.
He was able to go around & help out were needed & be there for his fellow military brothers & sisters. Jeff was sent stateside after serving 11 months in Afghanistan. He spent 15 months in Iraq plus a year in Korea. He was so upset about leaving his guys behind. He was stationed in Italy for 5 years. During his time in Italy, he welcomed his two sons, Casey & Jeffrey Cage Griffey into the world.
Griffey‘s awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with service star, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, The Global War of Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War of Terrorism Service Medal, the Korea Defense Service Medal, The Armed Forces Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge with Bronze Service Star and the Pathfinder Badge. Jeff was an enrolled member of the Oneida Tribe of Indians in Green Bay, WI.