John A. Griner was born on June 19, 1943, to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Griner. His home of record is Wyckoff, NJ. He graduated from Westfield High School in 1961. He was an excellent athlete in high school, playing varsity football. He also sang in the choir and Glee Club. He graduated in 1965 from The Smeal College of Business at Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing.

Griner enlisted in the US Navy and attained the rank of Lieutenant (LT). His skills brought him through 250 combat missions while flying his Skyhawk jet. In September 1969, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for leading a successful air attack against a heavily defended North Vietnamese regimental headquarters.

Griner was killed in action on February 9, 1970, in Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam, when one of his own bombs became jammed underneath his jet. Rather than abandon his plane, Griner attempted to land at Danang Air Base, but the bomb exploded on impact.

The town of Wyckoff named Griner Court in his memory.

Sources: Bob Duncan (classmate), various websites, newspaper clippings and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024