David Tressel Griggs, American geophysicist, educator. Decorated Purple Heart, 1944, President's Medal for Merit, 1946; United States Air Force award for exceptional civilian service, 1953; Bucher medal American Geophysical Union, 1970; Centennial Achievement award Ohio State University, 1970; Day medal Geological Society American, 1973.
Background
David Griggs was born on 6 October 1911 in Columbus, Ohio. His father was Robert Fiske Griggs, who discovered the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes near Mount Katmai in Alaska. Dave successfully persuaded his father to take in on one of his expeditions to this area during the summer of 1930.
Education
Bachelor of Arts, Ohio State University, 1932, Master of Arts, 1933. Postgraduate (junior fellow), Harvard, 1934-1941.
Career
He served as the second Chief Scientist of the United States. Air Force from 1951 to 1952. The highest area in this area was officially named Mount in his honor. Six years later, he went mountain climbing in the Caucasus Mountains, located between the Caspian and Black Seas.
Unfortunately, he had an accident resulting in compounded fractures in both legs and a dislocated knee.
As a result of this injury, he was not physically fit to serve in the military during World World War World War II David helped form the Research and Development corporation in 1947. As the Air Force chief scientist from 1951 to 1952, he supported the development of the thermonuclear (or fusion) bomb, with support from other scientists such as Edward Teller and Luis Walter Alvarez.
Unfortunately, J. Robert Oppenheimer opposed lieutenant Including testimony from Dave, the Personnel Security Board voted to support the suspension of Oppenheimer’s security clearance in 1954, which caused several physicists to consider Dave as the “Judas who had betrayed their god.” Further, Dave helped General William Westmoreland through three extended trips to Vietnam in the mid 1960s.
DR. Doctor While on the slopes, Dave had another massive heart attack and died.
Member National Geography Society Expedition to Valley 10,000 Smokes, 1930. Member Defense Science Board, 1964-1972, Army Science Advisory Panel, 1965-1973, OST Panel for Earthquake Prediction, 1965-1966. Fellow Geological Society American, American Physical Society.
Member National Academy Science, American Geophysical Union (president section tectonophysics 1964-1968), American Academy Arts and Sciences, Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi.
Clubs: Cosmos (Washington).
Connections
Married Helen Avery, May 4, 1946. Children: Nicola F. (Mistress J. Andron), Stephen F. Research associate.
Medal for Merit; Arthur L. Day Medal
Purple Heart; Bucher Medal; Medal for Merit; Arthur L. Day Medal
Dave Griggs, as a civilian non-combatant in a tactical mission over northern Italy during World War II, he was hit by a 20-mm shell from an enemy plane, receiving a Purple Heart - cite page120 . For his contributions during the war, President Harry S. Truman presented him a Medal for Merit, the citation reading: The Arthur L. Day Medal is a prize awarded by the Geological Society of America, established in 1948 by Arthur Louis Day for 'outstanding distinction in contributing to geologic knowledge through the application of physics and chemistry to the solution of geologic problems'.; The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed, while serving, on or after April 5, 1917, with the U.S. military.
Medal for Merit; Arthur L. Day Medal
Purple Heart; Bucher Medal; Medal for Merit; Arthur L. Day Medal
Dave Griggs, as a civilian non-combatant in a tactical mission over northern Italy during World War II, he was hit by a 20-mm shell from an enemy plane, receiving a Purple Heart - cite page120 . For his contributions during the war, President Harry S. Truman presented him a Medal for Merit, the citation reading: The Arthur L. Day Medal is a prize awarded by the Geological Society of America, established in 1948 by Arthur Louis Day for 'outstanding distinction in contributing to geologic knowledge through the application of physics and chemistry to the solution of geologic problems'.; The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed, while serving, on or after April 5, 1917, with the U.S. military.