John William Griffin

John was born March 20, 1949 in Flint, MI to the late Alfred Lawrence Griffin and Elizabeth Ann Slattery Griffin. He served his country honorably in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was a Vietnam combat-wounded veteran, who also actively served both his community and his fellow veterans as Commander of DAV Chapter 16 of Walton County. He was a member of Emmanuel Praise Church in Monroe and a volunteer for Angel Food Ministries.

He is survived by his wife, Bonnie Jean Griffin; five children, Stephanie Basim, Stephen Griffin, John Paul Griffin, Brian Kursonis, and Jeffrey Kursonis; two sisters, Deborah Lampkins and Patricia DuFour; three brothers, Alfred Griffin, Gregory Griffin and Robert Griffin; four grandchildren, Jesse Thornton, Alex Kursonis, Anderson Kursonis and Nicholas Kursonis; and many other family members.

Funeral services for John Griffin were held at Emmanuel Praise Church in Monroe, GA. He is buried with Military Honors at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, GA.

On line condolences may be made at www.bernsteinfuneralhome.com.

Bernstein Funeral Home and Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements.

JOHN WILLIAM GRIFFIN

John was born on March 20th, 1949 in Flint, Michigan.

His parents were Alfred Lawrence Griffin and Elizabeth Ann Slattery Griffin. His wife is Bonnie Jean Griffin. Five Children: Stephanie Basim, Stephen Griffin, John Paul Griffin, Brian Kursonis, and Jeffrey Kursonis; Two sisters: Deborah Lampkins,, and Patricia DuFour; Three brothers: Alfred Griffin, Gregory Griffin, and Robert Griffin; Four grandchildren: Jesse Thornton, Alex Kursonis, Anderson Kursonis, and Nicholas Kursonis; as well as many other family members.

In April 1968 John joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He received his training in California. His specialty was weapons.

He was sent to South Vietnam and stationed in Da Nang. While on a company sweep in Quang Tri Province searching an area for enemy positions on January 31, 1969, an enemy mine was command detonated resulting in the death of eight men and many injured. John sustained serious injuries, including the loss of his left leg. His first words were, “Oh my God, I’ve lost my leg, I’ve lost my job”.

Within 5 minutes a helicopter came to rescue them and he was the last one put on board. They were flown to the Navy Ship U.S.S. Sanctuary. John said he felt no pain until someone touched him. When they got to the ship- John was the first one off. They put him on a large conveyor belt which took them down to the operating rooms. He was fully conscious until he was on the conveyor belt.

Later he was flow on the outside of a helicopter to a U.S. Army Hospital in Japan. He was in critical condition for some time. When his parents were informed his mother said, “If there’s any chance, he’ll LIVE because of his determination”. His family was faithful to pray and the Lord spared his life. Later he finished the months of recovery at the U.S. Navy Hospital in Philadelphia. In August he received his official retirement from the U.S. Marine Corps.

He was honorably discharged. Amongst his other decorations he received The Purple Heart and The Bronze Star Medal which was one of the highest awards for bravery and heroism.

I was also a veteran, having served in the Medical Corps –U.S. Navy.

I met John in the cafeteria at the Veterans Hospital in Allen Park, Michigan. I looked across the room and saw this handsome guy with thick curly hair and sparkling eyes, and he “winked” at me! I couldn’t resist smiling. That was over 40 years ago.

When we met- John had a daughter Stephanie, and I had two sons Brian and Jeffrey. We married in San Diego, California. In San Diego we went to college, had two sons, Stephen and john Paul and bought a couple homes. Also during that time I rededicated my life to God and John asked the Lord to come into his heart and life-The most important decisions in our lives!

The Lord led us to move to Monroe, GA. in April 1982. John has actively served this community and his fellow veterans through Volunteering with the DAV. He was asked to be the first Commander of Chapter 48 in Monroe. He has been Commander of Chapter 16 of Walton County for many years.

I worked with the Auxiliary locally and we both had DAV State Department positions. John was State N.E. District Commander.

John has also volunteered at the VA Hospital for about 25 years. Taking fruit and $90 cash each month to play Bingo with the VA Nursing Home patients. Also he has worked for and volunteered at Angel Food Ministry, driving a forklift in the warehouse.

He has been a member of Emmanuel Praise Church for about ten years.

John loves people, especially children. It gave him great joy to hand out Jolly Ranchers and chewing gum at church and the warehouse.

John has always been a high energy, overcoming enthusiastic person. He didn’t permit disabilities to stop him. He used crutches to walk short distances, but in the long halls at the VA Hospital he would propel his wheelchair with his crutches like ski poles. He was teased that he might get a “speeding ticket”.

Some favorite past times for John:

He always enjoyed people. Often he would play pool at the local Billiard’s. This gave him a great way to socialize and play a game at the same time. He loved to go swimming. You could often times catch him doing flips of the diving boards. From time to time he would go roller skating. People would look at him with amazement when you would see him flying around the roller skating rink. I remember he tried to negotiate a better price with the person he bought his roller skates with, as he only needed 1 skate. He was a man that didn’t allow fear in his life. Heights never bothered him, as he would climb trees with one leg to go get Mistletoe during the Christmas Season. In his youth, he spent much time window cleaning for high rise buildings.

I don’t think John realized that he only had one leg. We would often see him doing things a man with 2 legs would struggle to do. He was always completely determined, so if he didn’t know how to do something, he would figure it out! He always needed to be productive. If he wasn’t volunteering and helping someone, you could find him cutting wood somewhere. He enjoyed chopping wood and selling it.

God really watched over John’s life and protected him. People would say he was like a cat with nine lives. Actually, I think he had more than nine lives. Since he was a child, he should have died many times, but God’s love and protection covered him.

- Age 3, a large bread truck backed over him and cracked his pelvis

-Age 6 hit by a car and knocked down (just a couple scratches)

-Age 7 he was swinging on scaffolding ropes that were hanging from a building. The ropes rubbed the electrical wires raw and sparks came flying out. The sparks lit up entire blocks of buildings. People came out and rescued him (No Injury)

-Stabbed in the back with a broken glass bottle

-Pistol put in his face

-Many car accidents

-Age 17 while cleaning windows 4 stories up, his belt terminal attached to the building came off and his foot caught the window and prevented him from falling

-Age 19 John said, “Blowed up in Nam” – losing his leg, schrapnel tore apart his other leg, and many other critical injuries

-Age 23 totaled a Volkswagon (walked away with scratches)

- Age 24 Heart attack

-Age 25 Heart attack

-Age 26 Heart attack

-Moped accident, skinned top of his head (He blames his hair loss on this!) (Good excuse John!)

-Age 49 Heart surgery

Many other things have happened that should have killed him. We are so thankful that God always watched over and protected him. John was well aware of this!

John’s strong faith in God, the many prayers going up for him, the wonderful love given to him by his family and friends have helped him face the challenges this past year of fighting this illness, which was directly related to his injuries in Vietnam.

All these years the Lord has worked miracle after miracle for John, keeping him alive. Also the Lord has been in the details of his life such as seeing to it that John always had a parking space! It has been wonderful to witness. God is a good God!

John had one desire- to come home for Christmas. The Lord granted his wish! The doctors said he could come home on Christmas Eve. Also John told me on December, 23rd “It’s time…..to go be with the Lord”.

John did come home Christmas Eve and we as a family enjoyed a beautiful white Christmas. We had 3 ½ days together.

John fought the good fight of faith and we are so proud of him!

He moved to Heaven December 28, 2010.

Pastor Gene Acuff, our pastor before he retired, shared several scriptures with us.

John 1:14 (The Message Bible)

John 14:24 (The Message Bible)

Rev. 21:3 (The Message Bible)

John 14:1 (The Living Bible)

Let not your heart be troubled, you are trusting God, now trust in Me.

There are many homes up there where My Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming. When everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so that you can always be with me where I am.

Pastor said, “His heavenly home wasn’t ready before Christmas. He came home to his earthly home for Christmas. After Christmas when preparations were ready, he went to his heavenly home.

Thank You Father. Thank You Jesus, Thank You Holy Spirit. Thank You for your son, John. We are honored that we were chosen to share life with him. We praise You Lord.

(Song John wrote- Title “Thank You Lord”

Thank you Lord for your son, now I know the battle’s won. Thank you Lord for your mercy, now you made me worthy. Thank you Lord for your love, now I know it comes from above. Thank you Lord for your Grace, I know that its from a Heavenly place. Thank you Lord for the Victory, that your son has given to me. )