Kenneth Charles Griffiths was born on June 28, 1916, in Downs, Osborne County, Kansas. He was the son of Lionel A. Griffiths and Agnes Griffiths. He was married to Sarah Ann Aull Childress. After graduating from Downs High School, he attended Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri, where he graduated in June 1935. He entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1939. After graduating from West Point, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Field Artillery. In September 1939, Griff sailed for the Philippines, where he was stationed at Fort Stotsenburg with the Philippine Scouts.

Griff served with the 2nd Battalion, 24th Field Artillery, Philippine Scouts, under Colonel T.R. Wilson. He fought bravely during the Battle of Bataan, remaining steadfast until the surrender on April 9, 1942. Taken prisoner following the fall of Bataan, Griff was sent to the Cabanatuan Prison Camp and accepted command of a work detail of 200 enlisted men, for which he was commended by camp leadership. Despite deteriorating health, he continued to serve until he contracted cerebral malaria.

On the evening of August 21, 1942, Griff retired in good spirits but passed away peacefully in his sleep early the following morning. He was laid to rest in the camp cemetery, located just outside the prison compound. He is now buried in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, alumni.westpointaog.org