Robert Lee Griffith was born in 1919 Bosque, Tx. He married Hattie Lee Montgomery (sister of Dewey Montgomery). Robert was one of the 317 survivors from the USS Indianapolis. During an interview with he granddaughter, Christina Griffith Moser, he told her that he was peeling potatoes when the first torpedo hit. He made it off the ship with two potatoes. When they were rescued, Robert still had both potatoes. According to Christina's interview, Robert and a fellow shipmate held on the body of a deceased friend / fellow shipmate despite the sharks feeding in order to return his body to his family. Robert was the recipient of a Purple Heart.
Sources
Interview of descendants Robert Guy Griffith, Jr and Christina Griffith Moser
His headstone & personal knowledge of Jennifer Porter Griffith Black.
"Texas, Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X2JZ-MM8 : accessed 25 January 2015), Robert Lee Griffith, 08 Jan 1919; citing , Bosque, Texas, United States, certificate 505, Bureau of Vital Statistics. State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,492,100.
"Texas, Birth Index, 1903-1997," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V84W-D44 : accessed 25 January 2015), Robert Lee Griffith in entry for Michael Wayne Griffith, 13 Jan 1950; from "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," index and images, Ancestry; citing Texas Department of State Health Services.
"Texas, Birth Index, 1903-1997," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V8HD-4RT : accessed 25 January 2015), Robert Lee Griffith in entry for Dewey Ray Griffith, 18 Jan 1947; from "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," index and images, Ancestry; citing Texas Department of State Health Services.
"Texas, Birth Index, 1903-1997," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VDXL-9PL : accessed 25 January 2015), Robert Lee Griffith in entry for Robert Guy Griffith, 20 Mar 1954; from "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," index and images, Ancestry; citing Texas Department of State Health Services.
"Texas, Birth Index, 1903-1997," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VDPT-T9T : accessed 25 January 2015), Robert Lee Griffith in entry for Willard Lee Griffith, 25 May 1956; from "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," index and images, Ancestry; citing Texas Department of State Health Services.
"United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/HYX8-2ZM : accessed 25 January 2015), Robert L Griffith in household of Lee A Griffith, Precinct 8, Grayson, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0059, sheet 1B, family 13, line 59, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2337; FHL microfilm 2,342,071.
"Texas, Death Index, 1964-1998," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JV2W-MNT : accessed 25 January 2015), Robert Lee Griffith, Grayson, Texas, United States; citing Department of State Health Services, Austin.
"United States Census, 1910," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M2MB-SD9 : accessed 27 January 2015), Grace Griffith in household of Lee Griffith, Justice Precinct 5, Bosque, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 11, sheet 7B, family 123, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,375,546.
"Texas, Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X2JZ-MMC : accessed 27 January 2015), Lee Griffith in entry for Griffith, 08 Jan 1919; citing Womack, Bosque, Texas, United States, certificate 505, Bureau of Vital Statistics. State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,492,100.
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you have him listed with a category as a medal of Honor Recipient, which i think is incorrect, not mentioned in the bio
could you please remove the upper level rollup categories for
US Navy
World War II
US Navy in World War II
World War II US Navy Veterans
the intent is to add people to the narrowest category, and by having him on the USS Indianapolis CA-35, the other 4 are assumed...
and actually, we are reworking military categories and at some point that will change to USS Indianapolis CA-35, United States Navy, World War II to better define the period since the ship served in both peace and wartime.
you have him listed with a category as a medal of Honor Recipient, which i think is incorrect, not mentioned in the bio
could you please remove the upper level rollup categories for
US Navy
World War II
US Navy in World War II
World War II US Navy Veterans
the intent is to add people to the narrowest category, and by having him on the USS Indianapolis CA-35, the other 4 are assumed...
and actually, we are reworking military categories and at some point that will change to USS Indianapolis CA-35, United States Navy, World War II to better define the period since the ship served in both peace and wartime.
keith