Gerald Charles Griffin

Gerald Charles Griffin was one of the first two Iowans Killed in the Vietnam War. Dubuque native Griffin and Moulton native Norton were killed on October 6, 1962 in a helicopter crash in the Quang Tin Province, South Vietnam. The chopper experienced mechanical failure and struck a mountain southeast of the Tam Ky Airfield. Griffin was among seven Americans killed in the accident. Griffin was born in Wyoming, IA and moved to Dubuque in 1950. He graduated from Loras College and earned an MD degree from Creighton University in 1959. Shortly after school he entered the Navy. The military listed LT Griffin’s hometown of record as Omaha. He served as a medical specialist and was sent to South Vietnam in 1962. LT Griffin was 28 years old at the time of his death. His body was returned to Iowa and buried at the Baldwin Catholic Cemetery in Jackson County.