TBS 2-67 Cruisebook_Updated_7Jan23

Second Platoon
Raleigh R. Grifiths
My Life Before Attending TBS: I was born and raised
in Long Beach, CA. I attended Lakewood High School
and attended college at University of California,
Berkeley where I majored in Genetics. I went through
the NROTC Program. I played water polo while in high
school. I was involved in Orchestras from Junior High
all the way through college. My first real job was The
Marine Corps . My father was in the Army Corps of
Engineers and was stationed in Iran during WWII. I
wanted to fly but the Navy didn't have any openings
while the Marine Corps did. I chose the Marine Corps
as my option as a Junior in NROTC.
My Memories of TBS: I didn't get married until after
TBS. I don't recall any specific roommate but those in
the TBS facilities included Ken Herr, Bob Hickerson,
Jim Cathcart, Doug Botkin and others. These were my
close friends at TBS and beyond. I spent some time in
Washington DC on liberty. The best part of the
training: the ad hoc public speaking where my talk was
on Biological Warfare. I qualified Expert on the pistol
range and Sharpshooter on the rifle range. I did have
my sword engraved.
TBS Graduation: My MOS assigned after graduation
was in Aviation. I don't remember my 2nd and 3rd
choices.
After Completing TBS: Right after TBS, I took leave
and got married. Because flight training was backed
up, I was assigned 2 weeks of recruiting duty in the San
Francisco area. The recruiting staff didn't think it was
wise to send me back to Berkeley because of the
violence toward the military, so the 2 weeks were
spent as a kind of vacation, with me reporting in
regularly.
Vietnam Era Service: I went to Vietnam directly after
my MOS training as a Radar Intercept Officer. I was
assigned to VMFA-314 in Chu Lai under Col. Frank
Peterson. I was there from late 1968 to late 1969. Ken
Herr was my roommate in Vietnam. My training in
Glynco Georgia on radar helped me in air to air
assignments and my training in my initial F4 squadron,
VMFA-513, taught me close air support. While in
Vietnam, I flew 440 combat missions. I was in charge of
the ejection seat shop. I was involved in a midair
collision while on a tanker and had to eject over the
ocean. Ken Herr, his wife, me and my wife went to
Hawaii on R&R. I returned to CONUS in late 1969 and
was assigned to a squadron at El Toro, CA. I got out in
1971.
After Vietnam: After Vietnam, my wife and I went on
a week tour of Europe. After that, I spent another
semester at Cal State Long Beach to prepare for a
career in medical. I ended up selling medical diagnostic
equipment, and ultimately X-ray equipment. My
marriage ended after a total of 12 years together.
After My Initial Obligation was up: I didn't have any
other contacts with the military after I resigned. I
refined my X-ray skills over the years and held both
management jobs and specialist jobs supporting
Vascular Equipment sales and training. I did get into
sailing and did several trips to Cabo San Lucas. I did get
married a second time and that lasted 8 years. I retired
in 2007 and am living in the Seal Beach area of
California. I love to travel and have done several
cruises along the West Coast, including Canada.
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