BRIGADIER GENERAL GERALD DIETER GRIFFIN

Medical Corps, United States Army (Retired)

 Background:

Brigadier General Gerald Dieter Griffin was born Sept. 8, 1940, in Staufenberg, Germany, and came to America as the adopted son of an American Army Sergeant. He attended the University of California at Berkeley, where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in German and Zoology. He subsequently completed a Doctorate in Clinical Pharmacy/ Pharmacology at the University of the Pacific.  BG Griffin received his Medical Degree from the University of Juarez/Case Western Reserve Clerkship Program and completed a Flexible Internship at University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio. His Residency in Emergency Medicine was completed at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

BG Griffin’s military career as an officer began Aug. 24, 1968, when he was commissioned a 2d Lieutenant of Infantry after completing Officer Candidate School.  His most recent promotion, to Brigadier General, occurred 10 October 1998.  Prior to OCS, he served as an enlisted infantry soldier and medic for 4 years. BG Griffin was mandatorily retired for age in 2002, and re-appointed Colonel after he retired as a General Officer, with a 3 year Active Duty 'retiree recall' extension as an Emergency Physician. Dr Griffin retired again 21 Oct 2005, as Brigadier General, Medical Corps, US Army. BG Griffin served 41 1/2 years in America's Army.

 Active Duty:

General Griffin’s active duty assignments include Basic Combat Training & Advanced Infantry Training, Ft.Ord, CA; Basic Medic Tng & LVN Course, Ft Sam Houston, TX; Medic, SB Hays AH, Ft.Ord, CA; CHIEF, Pharmacy Services, Indian Health Service Hospital, Cass Lake, MN.; GENERAL MEDICAL OFFICER,7^th Medical Battalion, Fort Ord, CA.; ATTENDING PHYSICIAN and CHIEF, AMIC, Brooke Army Medical Center, Ft Sam Houston, TX; RESIDENT in Emergency Medicine, BAMC, FSH, TX; ASST CHIEF of Emergency Medicine, Wm Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, TX; CHIEF, Emergency Medical Services, S.B. Hays Army Hospital, Fort Ord, CA; EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN, Landstuhl ARMC, Germany; EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN, 10^th Special Forces/40^th Commando, British Royal Marines, Iraq, Ops Provide Comfort/Gallant Haven; Acting VII CORPS SURGEON,OP. Provide Comfort; COMMANDER, 7216^th IMSU, Op Joint Endeavor; EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN & GMO, Heidelberg USAH & Darmstadt USAC, Germany; EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN, 67CSH & Wuerzburg MEDDAC, Germany; CHIEF, ER & DEPUTY COMMANDER / HOSPITAL COMMANDANT / CHIEF, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, TF Med Falcon, Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo; CHIEF, Emergency Medicine/ Triage & DEPUTY COMMANDER/ HOSPITAL COMMANDANT/ CHIEF, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, Task Force 67, and 67CSH, Mosul, OIF II, Iraq; GMO, 118 ASMB, in Babylon, Ashraf & Balad, OIF II, Iraq.

BG Griffin’s Reserve assignments include 49^th Infantry Division HQ (Assistant S1), RIFLE PLATOON LEADER and XO Co. C(-), 185^th Mechanized Infantry Bn; COMMANDER, C Co.(-),4.2 Mortar Platoon; HQ Co COMMANDER, 445^th Civil Affairs Co. His medical assignments in the Reserve include: BATTALION SURGEON, 200^th Air Defense Artillery Battalion; FIELD MEDICAL ASSISTANT, 256^th General Hospital; GENERAL MEDICAL OFFICER, 352d Evacuation Hospital; COMMANDER, 147^th Medical Detachment (OA); COMMANDER, Sec. 4, 6253d U.S. Army Hospital; COMMANDER, 828^th Evacuation Hospital; COMMANDER, 359^th Combat Support Hospital; COMMANDER, 347^th General Hospital; COMMANDER, 352d Combat Support Hospital; He assumed COMMAND of the 2d Medical Brigade on 1 June 1998.

 Awards:

General Griffin’s military awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with “V” Device for Valor, the Purple Heart Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3) , Army Commendation Medal (5),Army Achievement Medal (2),the Joint Meritorious Unit Award (2), Army Superior Unit Award, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (2), the National Defense Service Medal (3), Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal (4) &“M” # “2”, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon(3), the Army Reserve Overseas Training Ribbon (2), Kuwait Liberation Medal, the Kosovo Campaign Medal & the UN Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the GWOT Service Medal, the Expert Field Medical Badge, Combat Medical Badge and the Combat Action Badge. He is a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit, and is a Distinguished Member of the Army Medical Department Regiment. He proudly wears the Special Forces combat patch on the right shoulder.

 Certifications:

His military education includes graduation from Basic Combat Training, Advanced Infantry Training, Medic Training, OCS, the Infantry Officer Basic Course, the AMEDD Officer Advanced Course, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College. 

Doctor Griffin is certified by the written examination of the American Board of Emergency Medicine. He is a Diplomat and Fellow of the American Board and College of Forensic Medicine, and was a Diplomat of the American Board of General Practice. He is at home in Pacific Grove, California, Texas and Germany with his wife Carolyn. They have three married daughters, Katherine, Renate, and Sarah, and five grandchildren. He continues to serve America's Army and the Nation as a Life member of AUSA, ROA & as a Delegate in CIOMR.