Sea Power - February-March 2017

on Dec. 7, 1941, when his PBY “flying boat” aircraft was strafed by Japanese aircraft at Kaneohe Naval Air Station.

Griffin, a graduate of the former Colorado Springs High School, also received special recognition during a Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day community observance at the Pioneer Museum Dec. 7, according to Halyards. Colorado Springs Council President Dave Rogers gave the presentation, which also recognized local Pearl Harbor survivors Jim Downing, Lou Brockly, George Blake and Don Stratton, who was aboard USS Arizona during the attack.

Mayor John Suthers was guest speaker during the event, which was attended by more than 200 people, and related his personal family history of Pearl Harbor and World War II in Colorado Springs. Wreaths were posted for each branch of the services. Doherty High School Navy Reserve Officers Training Corps cadets provided honors during the ceremony.

In Hawaii, Colorado Springs National Director Richard Cooper and his wife, Gail, joined Griffin’s son Donald and his wife Donnell for the Pearl Harbor 75th remembrance ceremony at what is now Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay. According to Dick Cooper, they presented an honorary lei on the Navy League’s behalf at the memorial marker that honors the service members and civilians killed at the base during the attack. Gail Cooper later presented a lei in memory of her nephew’s grandfather, who was lost on USS Arizona.

Donald Griffin also served in the Navy, retiring as a chief petty officer in 1977. His family makes it a practice to honor his father by visiting Kaneohe Bay each Dec. 7, according to Cooper. Daniel Griffin had a destroyer escort named in his honor on June 9, 1943. His widow, Lucille, was the ship’s sponsor. Daniel T. Griffin survived three kamikaze attacks during World War II and served in the Navy fleet until 1966.

Maui Hosts John Paul Jones

The Maui, Hawaii, Council rolled out the welcome mat for the guided-missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones when it made a port call to Lahaina Nov. 14-18. The council hosted the ship and crew during the visit, and many a meal was provided to the officers and crew around town, according to Council Treasurer Greg Brazil.

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From the left, Donald Griffin and his wife, Donnell, stand with Colorado Springs Council National Director Richard Cooper and his wife, Gail, at the
memorial honoring the 18 service members and two civilians lost at Kaneohe Naval Air Station during the Pearl Harbor attack, including Griffin’s
father, Daniel. They presented an honorary lei on the Navy League’s behalf at the memorial marker.

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Maui, Hawaii, Council members gather on the bow of the guided-missile
destroyer USS John Paul Jones during a tour of the ship Nov. 17.