REMINDER: Bradford resident Sam Sylvester, himself a now-retired career Navy man, reminded us that today is an important date to mark American military bravery.
It is the 70th anniversary of the actions of a “remarkably courageous American,” Colonel Welborn Barton Griffith Jr.
“The cathedral at Chartres, France is one of the world’s finest examples of Gothic architecture, complete with incomparable stained glass windows,” Sam wrote. “Prior to the German invasion of France in 1939, the French citizenry removed all of the glass and hid it in their homes. After the war, it was cleaned, releaded and replaced. But, there might not have been a cathedral for the replacement were it not for U.S. Army officer, Colonel Welborn Barton Griffith Jr.”
Sam goes on to share the remarkable story of the Texas native who stood up for history.
“Colonel Griffith was ordered to destroy the cathedral because it was suspected as a German Army outpost for its snipers. He challenged the strategy to destroy this magnificent structure and requested and received permission to first reconnoiter for any possible enemy activity,” Sam explained. “With a single enlisted soldier to assist him, Col. Griffith proceeded to the cathedral, conducted a thorough search and reported that the cathedral was clear of enemy forces.
“The order to destroy the cathedral was withdrawn. Later that day, however, in the neighboring town of Leves and within the shadow of Chartres Cathedral, Col. Griffith was killed by German tank fire.”
Sam added, “The citizens of Chartres honor him every year and will never forget what he did for history.”
From the Military Times Hall of Valor, more on Griffith’s story, and the thankful French who didn’t allow his actions to go unnoticed.
“Every year, on August 16, flowers are placed in front of the building where he died. A plaque, honoring his heroic action, has also been erected on the building. Residents of Leves saw him fall and die and within hours they had him covered with a blanket, bouquets of flowers and an American flag to await the American burial detail who buried him in a temporary grave.”
Griffith was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and Silver Star posthumously “for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy” for his actions immediately after he cleared the cathedral. He climbed onto an Allied Forces tank and led it to enemy troops; he was killed in the process.
