Philip D. Gritten, 71, formerly of Fithian, Illinois, passed away on Saturday (Aug. 7, 2010) in Vancouver, Washington, following an 11-month battle with acute leukemia.
He was born on Oct. 8, 1938 in Fithian, the son of Vinson and Wintress Gritten. They preceded him in death. He married Frahn Grantland near Decatur, Alabama on Dec. 7, 1963. She survives.
He is also survived by three sons, Greg (Yvonne) of Fairfield, California, Todd of Avon, Indiana and Jason of Seattle, Washington; three grandchildren, Chelsea, Jake and Chase and brother, Steve (Mary) of Champaign, Il.
He served in the U.S. Air Force and served first as an instructor pilot at Craig AFB, Alabama, then in Vietnam where he received several awards, including the Silver Star for "gallantry in action during combat missions." The Silver Star was for directing a fighter plane attack that saved the lives of 100 U.S. ground solders dug in on top of a hill from 700 enemy soldiers who had surrounded and were mounting an assault on them. He received over 100 ground fire bullets to his small Cessna single-engine airplane during that battle. He retired from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel.
He was born on Oct. 8, 1938 in Fithian, the son of Vinson and Wintress Gritten. They preceded him in death. He married Frahn Grantland near Decatur, Alabama on Dec. 7, 1963. She survives.
He is also survived by three sons, Greg (Yvonne) of Fairfield, California, Todd of Avon, Indiana and Jason of Seattle, Washington; three grandchildren, Chelsea, Jake and Chase and brother, Steve (Mary) of Champaign, Il.
He served in the U.S. Air Force and served first as an instructor pilot at Craig AFB, Alabama, then in Vietnam where he received several awards, including the Silver Star for "gallantry in action during combat missions." The Silver Star was for directing a fighter plane attack that saved the lives of 100 U.S. ground solders dug in on top of a hill from 700 enemy soldiers who had surrounded and were mounting an assault on them. He received over 100 ground fire bullets to his small Cessna single-engine airplane during that battle. He retired from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel.
Philip D. Gritten, 71, formerly of Fithian, Illinois, passed away on Saturday (Aug. 7, 2010) in Vancouver, Washington, following an 11-month battle with acute leukemia.
He was born on Oct. 8, 1938 in Fithian, the son of Vinson and Wintress Gritten. They preceded him in death. He married Frahn Grantland near Decatur, Alabama on Dec. 7, 1963. She survives.
He is also survived by three sons, Greg (Yvonne) of Fairfield, California, Todd of Avon, Indiana and Jason of Seattle, Washington; three grandchildren, Chelsea, Jake and Chase and brother, Steve (Mary) of Champaign, Il.
He served in the U.S. Air Force and served first as an instructor pilot at Craig AFB, Alabama, then in Vietnam where he received several awards, including the Silver Star for "gallantry in action during combat missions." The Silver Star was for directing a fighter plane attack that saved the lives of 100 U.S. ground solders dug in on top of a hill from 700 enemy soldiers who had surrounded and were mounting an assault on them. He received over 100 ground fire bullets to his small Cessna single-engine airplane during that battle. He retired from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel.
He was born on Oct. 8, 1938 in Fithian, the son of Vinson and Wintress Gritten. They preceded him in death. He married Frahn Grantland near Decatur, Alabama on Dec. 7, 1963. She survives.
He is also survived by three sons, Greg (Yvonne) of Fairfield, California, Todd of Avon, Indiana and Jason of Seattle, Washington; three grandchildren, Chelsea, Jake and Chase and brother, Steve (Mary) of Champaign, Il.
He served in the U.S. Air Force and served first as an instructor pilot at Craig AFB, Alabama, then in Vietnam where he received several awards, including the Silver Star for "gallantry in action during combat missions." The Silver Star was for directing a fighter plane attack that saved the lives of 100 U.S. ground solders dug in on top of a hill from 700 enemy soldiers who had surrounded and were mounting an assault on them. He received over 100 ground fire bullets to his small Cessna single-engine airplane during that battle. He retired from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel.
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