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Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III, right, attends the funeral service for retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg in Section 2 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, Sept. 19, 2024.
In 1946, Gregg’s parents signed a waiver allowing him to enlist in the Army at the age of 17. With the Army still segregated at the time, Gregg faced challenges but persisted in his military career. After completing basic training, he was assigned to a unit in Germany as a medical laboratory technician but there were no jobs there for Black soldiers, so he was transferred to be a unit supply clerk in an all-Black unit of the Quartermaster Corps.
Gregg was promoted several times over the next three years before becoming an officer. After being commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in 1950, Gregg was assigned to an all-Black service unit at Fort Lee, Virginia. Four years later in 1954, the Army became fully integrated.
Gregg would go on to assume command of the 96th Quartermaster Direct Support Battalion in South Vietnam where he would be awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation as well as the Legion of Merit.
In 1972, Gregg was promoted to Brigadier General and in 1976, Major General. In 1977, former President Jimmy Carter selected Gregg to be the Director of Logistics for the Joint Chief of Staff where Gregg worked hard to improve the readiness of the armed forces in this position. Carter also approved Gregg’s nomination to Lieutenant General, which made Gregg the first Black three-star general in the U.S. Army.
After 35-years in the Army, Gregg retired in 1981. In 2023, Gregg became the only living person in modern history to have an Army installation bear his name when Fort Lee was renamed Fort Gregg-Adams. The base was named for Gregg as well as Lt. Col. Charity Adams Early – highest-ranking Black woman to serve as an Army office in World War II.
Gregg’s awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal and Legion of Merit (2 oak leaf clusters). Gregg’s daughter, Alicia Gail-Collier, received the U.S. flag from his funeral service.
(U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth Fraser / Arlington National Cemetery / released)
| Date Taken: | 09.19.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 09.20.2024 14:35 |
| Photo ID: | 8654096 |
| VIRIN: | 240919-A-IW468-8541 |
| Resolution: | 6679x4458 |
| Size: | 13.02 MB |
| Location: | ARLINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 7 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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