THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 23, 1995 TAG: 9508230560
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B9 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: METRO BRIEFS
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
The Air Force lieutenant general fired from his command by Langley Air Force Base's Gen. Joseph W. Ralston for having an affair has been reduced in rank to major general and has asked to retire, Air Force officials announced Tuesday.
Ralston fired then-Lt. Gen. Thomas R. Griffith from his command of the 12th Air Force and U.S. Southern Command Air Forces at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., June 25 and asked for an Air Force inspector general's investigation into allegations of ``inappropriate personal conduct'' by Griffith.
Based on the inspector general's findings, Ralston gave Griffith a nonjudicial punishment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice's section for ``conduct unbecoming an officer.'' Nonjudicial punishment is more severe than a reprimand but not as bad as a full court-martial.
Ralston's action now means that Griffith's rank reverts to major general, his last permanent grade. He has asked to retire Sept. 1.
Air Force officials who asked not to be identified said the inappropriate conduct involved an extramarital affair with a woman who was not under his command or in the military. In the military, ``conduct unbecoming an officer'' can include adultery and can be prosecuted under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Griffith was stationed at Langley four years ago when he was a brigadier general and was deputy chief of staff for planning for the then Tactical Air Command, which merged into ACC in 1992. by CNB