From: Pete Griffith [mailto:petegriffith@cox.net]
Sent: Sunday, December 26, 2010 10:34 PM
To: 'dave@hmm-364.org.'
Subject: Pete GRiffith platoon and company commander Alpha 1/26 Vietnam 68-69

There is a write up about Jim Gillies attached to your website. If it’s the same guy, and it must be(?), Jim was a low bunk/high bunk rackmate with me in 47th Marine OCS mainside Quantico MCB Virginia from Oct-Dec 1967. Jim and I were commissioned 2 Jan. 1968 and he left for Pensacola Florida and Navy Marine Flight School immediately. I knew Jimmy well and he was a slightly built guy who wanted to be a Marine officer in the worst way. He had a tough time in the PT, confidence course and Hill Trails, was ridiculed by his DI’s as being too skinny but he showed them he packed the gear. Our OCS class graduated with less than half of what we started. He made it. It’s the Marine Corps way as you know.
I didn’t know Jimmy was KIA until I was reading this Purple Foxes site. I was an infantry officer in Vietnam as a 2nd platoon and the Alpha company commander 1st Bn 26th Marines and the Foxes re-supplied and supported my unit in the bush off and on my whole combat tour both from the Purple Foxes basing areas in Phu Bai and Marble Mountain.
Please pass to Jim’s family my most fondest of wishes and sincerest sympathies.
Jimmy packed the gear and that’s more than anyone can appreciate unless they fought the good fight too. Jimmy did the deed.
Semper FI
Parker Pete Griffith
Former Captain USMC Infantry
47th OCS and Golf 68 TBS
Vietnam Alpha 1/26 1968-69