Jackson Darius Griggs (21 February 1980 - September 6, 2011) was an American marine who joined the US Marine Corps, eventually rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant and being assigned to the USMC FORECON. Griggs was initially under the command of Lt. Manuel Vasquez, but was later cross-loaded with the SAS with Captain John Price's permission. He was later killed during an engagement in the Altay Mountains.
Biography
Early life
Jackson Darius Griggs was born on February 21, 1980, in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the oldest son of a Vietnam War veteran father and a mother who worked as a teacher. Griggs joined the US Marine Corps soon after 9/11, furious at the blatant attack on US soil. In 2009, Griggs was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant after several tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Insurgency War
Griggs defending the M1 Abrams tank War Pig with his M249 SAW.
Griggs played a large role in combating the newfound Iraqi Insurgency during the Insurgency War, aiding Lieutenant Manuel Vasquez's squad in the search for the leader of the OpFor, Khaled al-Asad.
They searched a neighborhood housing a TV station, as he was reported to be broadcasting to his supporters there. However, the broadcast was instead pre-recorded, with the squad unable to find Al-Asad. Griggs and Vasquez came to the aid of an M1A2 Abrams, call sign "War Pig", that was caught in a bog outside Al Qunfudhah, Saudi Arabia. Once the tank was mobile, the team was extracted by a helicopter.
The Marines attempted once again to look for and neutralize al-Asad, discovering intel that pinpointed him in Basra, Iraq. Sergeant Paul Jackson neutralized various anti-air batteries and RPG-toting soldiers, allowing the Marines to unload "War Pig", other tanks and a small group of Marines that did not include Griggs. Their mission to capture al-Asad was slowed down because Vasquez and Jackson, without Griggs, were forced to rescue a forward recon team from a heavily guarded building.
After being extracted along with the forward recon team, the Marines were informed of a possible nuclear device. Despite the efforts of EOD units, the explosion killed over 30,000 Marines and various other American units and the remainder of the civilians and insurgents in the city. Griggs, however, was able to escape and avoid the blast.
Meeting the SAS
After their lucky escape, Griggs and several other Marines were given orders to head to Azerbaijan to extract the SAS' Bravo Team after their mission of executing al-Asad was complete.
Zakhaev's son
Griggs served with Bravo Team's members, John Price, Gary Elliott and John MacTavish as they searched for leads to Imran Zakhaev, supplier of the bomb that decimated the American forces in Basra. An effort to capture Zakhaev's son, Viktor failed when he resorted to suicide.
Missile crisis
However, Viktor double's death instead attracted the ire of his father. Zakhaev came out of hiding and captured a missile site in the Altay Mountains. While parachuting into the Altay region, Griggs was separated and captured by Ultranationalists in a nearby village. He was then rescued by the SAS during his interrogation. Before they could reach Zakhaev, two ICBMs were launched from the facility. Griggs helped to retake the missile site, giving MacTavish a chance to disarm the deployed missiles and prevent the rest from being launched.
Escape and death
Griggs with the SAS on 5 September 2011.
During the team's evacuation attempt, Zakhaev's Mi-24 Hind destroyed a bridge leading to the extraction point. It also resulted in a fuel tanker on the bridge exploding, the shock wave incapacitating most of the SAS/USMC strike force. While dragging Soap to safety, Griggs engaged enemies on the bridge. While trying to pull MacTavish to a safe position, Griggs was forced to return fire with his M1911 and M249 SAW, but received a bullet to the head, killing him and leaving MacTavish in the open. However, he was able to avenge Griggs by killing Imran Zakhaev and two of his henchmen with the M1911 Price gave him.
Legacy
He is survived by his youngest brother Marcus, and was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions. Photos of Griggs along with MacTavish, Price, and Elliott were held up on the wall at one of Vladimir Makarov's sites, blaming them for Zakhaev's death.