GRIFFIN FRANCIS LEKIRKLAS

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Name: CW2 Francis Lekirklas Griffin
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 02/01/1968 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 31.6
Date of Birth: 06/30/1936
Home City: Charleston, SC
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 121 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 65-13W
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 36E-049
Short Summary: Observing lone VC shooting wounded in the head. AK-47 round nicked chicken plate & went through heart. Died in hospital.
Aircraft: UH-1B tail number 63-08581
Call sign: VIKING
Service number: W3152787
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 062B = Helicopter Pilot, Utility and Light Cargo Single Rotor
Primary cause: AK-47
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Started Tour: 01/03/1968
"Official" listing: ground casualty
Length of service: 06
Location: Kien Hoa Province IV Corps.

Additional information about this casualty:
The Unit History states that at approximately 1800 that evening CW2 Griffin was struck in the side by a bullet while engaging a target just east of the airfield. He was immediately rushed to the hospital but it was too late. His outstanding feats during the first days of the Tet Offensive were an inspiration to all the men of Soc Trang and his death deeply saddened everyone.

Reason: gunshot or small arms fire
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Baptist - other groups
Burial information: MARIETTA NATIONAL CEMETERY, MARIETTA, GA
The following information secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 07/05/2003


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Date posted on this site: 11/13/2023


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