(WTVF) — A Green Beret from Greenbrier, Tennessee was killed in action on Monday while serving in Afghanistan.
Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy W. Griffin was in Wardak Province in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel when he was killed by a small arms fire while engaged in combat operations. The incident remains under investigation.
"The loss of Sgt. 1st Class Griffin is felt across the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) Family and the entire Special Forces community," said Col. Owen G. Ray, commander, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne). "He was a warrior - an accomplished, respected and loved Special Forces Soldier that will never be forgotten. We ask that you keep his family and teammates in your thoughts and prayers."
He served as Special Forces communications sergeant to 3rd Batallion, 1st Special Forces (Airborne) at Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Washington.
Griffin enlisted into the U.S. Army in 2004 and previously served in the 82nd Airborne Division and 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).
The soldier deployed with the 82nd Airborne Division to Iraq in 2006 and Afghanistan in 2009 and again in 2016 with 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne). Griffin also served on an overseas rotation to Korea in 2018.
He was on his fourth combat deployment when he died.
Griffin's awards and decorations include:
- Bronze Star Medal
- Army Commendation Medal - 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
- Army Achievement Medal - 3 Oak Leaf Cluster
- Army Good Conduct Medal - fifth award
- National Defense Service Medal
- Afghanistan Campaign Medal - 3 Campaign Stars
- Iraq Campaign Medal - 2 Campaign Stars
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Korea Defense Service Medal
- Noncommissioned Officer Development Ribbon - Numeral 3
- Army Service Ribbon
- Overseas Service Ribbon
- NATO Medal
- Army Marksmanship Qualification Badge - Expert
- Parachutist Badge
- Master Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge
- Combat Infantry Badge
- Combat Action Badge
- Ranger and Army Special Forces Tabs
Griffin has since been posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart.
The loving father and husband graduated from Northeast High School in Clarksville before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 2004.
It's unclear if Griffin's body will be brought back to Tennessee to be laid to rest. We're told his wife and children currently live in Washington. The American Legion in Greenbrier says if they do bury him in Tennessee, they will gladly be waiting at the airport to honor him and escort the family.
