82nd Paratrooper Found Dead on Friday

An 82nd Airborne Division Paratrooper was found unresponsive and pronounced

dead in a Fayetteville apartment Friday morning according to a media released

by Fort Bragg on Sunday.


Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Griffey, 37, from Byron Center, Michigan, served as an

air movement liaison with the 82nd Airborne Division Headquarters and was

assigned to Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 782nd Brigade Support

Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team.


"Sergeant First Class Jeffrey Griffey was a dedicated leader in the 4th

Brigade and 82nd Airborne Division," said Lt. Col. Geoffrey Kent, commander

of  the 782nd BSB. "Serving six years in the Fury Brigade, also as a platoon

sergeant, Jeff touched the lives of countless Paratroopers and their

families. He was a true professional by all measures and a dear friend to

many. His highest priority was spending time with his three children whom he

loved dearly. This unexpected death has shaken our unit and the Troopers

that knew Jeffrey. Our deepest sympathy goes out to the Griffey family

during this challenging time of loss."


Griffey joined the Army in 1993.  He completed basic combat training and

advanced individual training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He arrived at

Fort Bragg's 82nd Airborne Division in 2006 where he served as a senior

maintenance noncommissioned officer in charge, platoon sergeant, maintenance

supervisor, maintenance control sergeant and motor sergeant.


Griffey served on two combat deployments. He deployed in support of

Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003 to January 2004 and Operation

Enduring Freedom from January to October 2007.


Griffey's awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal with

five oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with four oak leaf

clusters, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal

with service star, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Afghanistan

Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism

Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korea

Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Humanitarian

Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon,

the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the

Combat Action Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge with Bronze Service Star and

the Pathfinder Badge.