He suffered compound fractures in both legs and a dislocated knee; this rendered him physically ineligible for military service during World War II.
During that time, the chairman of the General Advisory Committee, J. Robert Oppenheimer, opposed it, hoping to restrain a predicted worldwide nuclear proliferation.
[7] For his contributions during the war, President Harry S. Truman presented him a Medal for Merit, the citation reading:[8] DR. DAVID GRIGGS, For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services as H2X Project Officer in the Eighth Air Force during the period 1 May 1943 to 1 April 1944.
Through his tireless efforts and outstanding leadership he made a substantial contribution to the heavy bombardment operations performed by the Eighth Air Force.
The professional skill and the devotion to duty displayed by Dr. Griggs reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.Griggs received the Walter H. Bucher Medal of the American Geophysical Union in 1970.