Ret. Army Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg's ANC Honor Funeral September 24, 2024 September 19, 2024 - Soldiers from the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and the U.S. Army Band, “Pershing’s Own,” conduct military funeral honors starting with a with funeral escort for retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg in Section 2 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.
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. Image created by USA Patriotism! from... Courtesy photo by T. Anthony Bell and U.S. Army photos by Elizabeth Fraser / Arlington National Cemetery. Larger Image U.S. Army Gifts | U.S. Army | U.S. Army Reserve | U.S. Department of Defense Our Valiant Troops | I Am The One | Answering The Call | Brave Young | Brave Blue | Our Heroes, America's Best Veterans | Citizens Like Us | Vietnam War Veterans | Spouses Serve Too Honoring The Fallen | Don't Weep For Me | Remember The Fallen | Tears For Your Fallen | Our Wounded Americans | I Am An American! | We The People | America's Destiny | Give Thanks | Love and Pride of USA | National Will God and Country | One Nation Under God | America's Symbol | Old Glory | Hooray USA! | America, My Home! 2024 Photos || Photos Index |