Hugh Wesley Griffith (1917-1945)

GRIFFITH, WILSON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:11

From Nevada Evening Journal December 24, 1948 (page 5)

Hold Final Rites For Hugh Wesley Griffith

Funeral services were held for Hugh Wesley Griffith at the Cambridge Methodist church Saturday afternoon, Dec. 18 at 1:30 in charge of Rev. DeLoss Marken of Des Moines, assisted by Rev. C. R. Fitz of Maxwell and Rev. Wetteland of Cambridge.

Leland Gardner, John Dyer, C. R. Fitz and Earl Gardner sang "The Old Rugged Cross," "Face, Fade Each Earthly Joy" and "That Beautiful Land" with Mrs. John Dyer at the piano.

Casket bearers were Morgan Simpson, L. C. Chambers, Jack Hynd, Claude Vogt, Ole Holland and Alver Erickson.

Interment was in the Center Grove cemetery.

Obituary

Hugh Wesley Griffith, the youngest son of Frank E. and Sarah E. Griffith, was born on a farm near Elwell, October 24, 1917. There he grew to manhood.

He was killed in action April 15, 1945, by small arms fire while mopping up German pockets in the vicinity of Torren, Germany. He was 27 years, 5 months, 22 day old at the time of his death. He was buried at Breuna Cemetery No. 1, Torren, Germany, and later moved to the National cemetery in Holland.

He attended Sunday school and church at the Methodist church in Cambridge. He attended school at Center Grove and Cambridge. He was engaged in farming with his brother, Homer, at the time he left for the service of his country.

"Buster" as he was called by his many friends was inducted in the army the 4th day of March, 1942, at Fort Des Moines Army post. He took his training at Fort Lewis, Wash., Desert Center, California, and Camp Gruber, Okla.

He was a member of the Headquarter Battery 183rd Field Artillery Battalion as radio operator. He embarked for overseas duty December, 1943, from New York for the European area, and was stationed somewhere in England.

On June 14 he landed at Utah Beach in Normandy, France, under the command of the First Army. He fought at Cherbourg, St. Giles, Pontbroeard, and helped capture the German 7th Army. From Aug. 19, to Sept. 3, guarded the 7th Corps and combed the woods for Germans and pursued them into Belgium Sept. 4 crossed the German border in pursuit of the German army. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and at Cologne.

While in service he was awarded a citation in the capacity of survey inst. Several battle stars, and ribbons, the Purple Heart, and the Presidential Citation.

Hugh Wesley Griffith was a member of the Tabernacle Lodge No. 452 AF & AM of Cambridge, also a member of New Hope Chapter No. 50 OES of Cambridge.

Survivors

Surviving besides his parents are one brother, Home of Cambridge, one sister, (Marie) Mrs. Lawrence Wilson of Des Moines, two nephews, William Wesley Griffith, and Lawrence Hugh Wilson, many aunts, uncles and cousins; also a host of friends.

Relatives attending from out-of-town were Mr. and Mrs. Jim Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Hopper, Mrs. Cliff Cox and sons, Billie and Donnie, all of Des Moines.