Murray, James P. - 1946

PENNA. LEGIONNAIRE NAMED FOR TOP POST

The name of Paul H. Griffith, of Uniontown, businessman and Veteran of World Wars I and II, was advanced recently for National Commander of The American Legion.  He served throughout World War I with the 28th Division as a non-commissioned officer.  In World War II, he served in high military capacities in every theatre of that conflict.

James P. Murray, Commander of The American Legion Department of Pennsylvania, has been chosen as chairman of the Griffith Campaign Committee.  Election of Griffith as National Commander would place the first Pennsylvanian in that high office.  The formation of a campaign committee of prominent Legionnaires is underway.

Photo: Paul H. Griffith of Uniontown, Veteran of World War I and II, candidate for National Commander of the American Legion.

Enlisting with the 28th Division in May 1917, Griffith served with Company D, 110th Infantry and 55th Infantry, Brigade Headquarters in France as a non-commissioned officer.  He was honorably discharged in May 1919, and commissioned in the Officer Reserve Corps.

He entered service in World War II as a Major in the Chemical Warfare Reserves, and was assistant executive officer in the Office of the Under Secretary of War.  Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1942, he was selected as military member of the American Technical Mission to India.

As military aide to Louis Johnson, who was personal representative of the President of the United States in the Middle and Near East, Colonel Griffith served in every theatre of World War II.  He later became assistant executive in the office of Major General Louis B. Hershey and represented Selective Service in establishing activities and critical occupations for the War Manpower Commission and the Selective Service System.

After his promotion to a full colonelcy in January 1944, Colonel Griffith became Chief of the Veterans Personnel Division of Selective Service, having direction over programs for the reemployment of returning veterans.  Upon establishment by Congress of the Office of War Mobilization and Reconversion, he was made Assistant Administrator of the Retraining and Reemployment Administration, having direction and supervision over all agencies of Government regarding retraining and reemployment.

After Japan capitulated he entered ---- continued on page 4 ----
~ Bellwood Bulletin, 24-Jan-1946, Page 1, Column 4

LEGIONNAIRE NAMED FOR

continued from page one
private business as executive Vice-President of the Conlan Electric Corporation, marine electrical engineers, of Brooklyn, Baltimore and Washington.

Colonel Griffith is entitled to wear the Silver Star, Purple Heart, Legion of Honor and the Croix de Guerre.  He is a lifetime member of Lafayette Post 51, of Uniontown.  He has served the American Legion in Pennsylvania as Commander of his own Post, Chairman of the Fayette County Committee, District Commander, First Vice-Commander, member of the State Policy Committee and State Commander.

At the National level, he has served as Chairman of the National Americanism Commission of The American Legion, as Director of its Washington Office, as Director of the National Employment and Veteran Preference Committee, as an ex-officio member of the National Employment Committee.
~ Bellwood Bulletin, 24-Jan-1946, Page 4, Columns 5 & 6