Welborn Barton Griffith, Jr.
Colonel, U.S. Army

On 16 August 1944, Colonel Welborn Barton Griffith, Jr. was serving as Operations Officer (G-3) with Headquarters, XX Corps, Third U.S. Army.

On that day, COL Griffith’s unit was in action against German forces at Chartres and Leves, France. COL Griffith entered the city of Chartres, France, in order to check the actual locations and dispositions of units of the 7th Armored Division that was occupying the city. Noticing that fire was being directed at the cathedral in the center of the city, COL Griffith, accompanied by an enlisted man, searched the cathedral. After finding no German troops inside, he signaled for a cease fire. While inspecting outlying positions north of the city, he encountered about 15 German soldiers. After firing several shots at them, he moved to the nearest American outpost of our forces where a tank was located. Arming himself with an M-1 rifle, COL Griffith climbed upon the tank and directed it to the enemy forces he had located. As the tank advanced he was exposed to intense enemy machinegun, rifle, and rocket-launcher fire. During this action, near Leves, France, COL Griffith was killed. COL Griffith’s leadership, courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

More About This Action

For centuries, the Chartres Cathedral was one of France's treasures and it would have been destroyed if not for Colonel Griffith's heroic action of ringing the cathedral bells as a sign for the American troops not to shoot. Every year, on 16 August, flowers are placed in front of the building where he died. A plaque honoring his heroic action,has also been erected on the building. The resident's of Leves saw him fall and die and within hours they had him covered with a blanket, bouquets of flowers and an American flag to await the American burial detail that buried him in a temporary grave.

Medals and Awards

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Legion of Merit
Purple Heart
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Colonel Welborn Barton Griffith, Jr. (ASN: 0-16194), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Operations Officer (G-3) with Headquarters, XX Corps, in action against enemy forces on 16 August 1944 at Chartres and Leves, France. On 16 August 1944, Colonel Griffith entered the city of Chartres, France, in order to check the actual locations and dispositions of units of the 7th Armored Division which was occupying the city. Upon observing fire being directed at the cathedral in the center of the city, with utter disregard for his own safety, Colonel Griffith, accompanied by an enlisted man, searched the cathedral and finding that there were no enemy troops within, signaled for cessation of fire. Continuing his inspection of outlying positions north of the city, he suddenly encountered about fifteen of the enemy. He fired several shots at them, then proceeded to the nearest outpost of our forces at which point a tank was located. Arming himself with an M-1 rifle and again with complete disregard for his own safety, Colonel Griffith climbed upon the tank directing it to the enemy forces he had located. During the advance of the tank he was exposed to intense enemy machinegun, rifle, and rocket-launcher fire and it was during this action, in the vicinity of Leves, France, that he was killed. The exemplary heroism displayed by Colonel Griffith in the face of enemy fire and his constant, fearless leadership under adverse conditions reflect great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.

General Orders: Headquarters, Third U.S. Army, General Orders No. 75 (October 21, 1944)

Burial

Colonel Welborn Barton Griffith, Jr. is buried at the Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial in Saint-James, Departement de la Manche, Basse-Normandie, France in Plot B, Row 4, Grave 4.

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=56353613