Lieutenant General Arthur James Gregg

Our Uncle, Lieutenant General Arthur J. Gregg was born on May 11, 1928, in Florence, South Carolina, the youngest of nine children of Robert and Ethel Gregg. After graduating from Huntington High School in Newport News, Virginia, in 1945, he enlisted in the United States Army in January 1946. He initially served as a supply sergeant before attending Officer Candidate School at Fort Riley, Kansas, where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps in May 1950. His military career spanned over 35 years until his retirement in August 1981.

In 1950, Lt. Gen. Gregg married Charlene S. McDaniel, a Public Health Nurse who became a devoted Army wife. They shared 56 years together until her passing in 2006. Also preceding him in death was one daughter, Sandra, in 2009.

During his early military career, Lt. Gen. Gregg held various command and staff assignments in the United States, Korea, Japan, and Germany. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1966 and commanded the 96th Supply and Service Battalion, which he led to Vietnam, transforming it into one of the largest battalions in the U.S. Army. After returning from Vietnam, he attended the Army War College and was later assigned to the European Command Headquarters in Germany.

In the 1970s, Lt. Gen. Gregg held several significant roles, including Director for Logistics within the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Army’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics at the Pentagon. He was promoted to major general in 1976 and advanced to lieutenant general in 1977.

Following his retirement from the Army, Lt. Gen. Gregg transitioned to the private sector, holding leadership positions in various companies, including Cox Cable and American Coastal Industries. He continued to contribute to the corporate world and non-profit organizations well into his later years, serving on several boards.

Lt. Gen. Gregg earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (summa cum laude) from Saint Benedict College in Atchison, Kansas, and completed advanced studies at the Army War College, the Command and General Staff College, and the Executive Program in National Security at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

He was awarded numerous military decorations, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Meritorious Unit Citation.

In April 2023, at the age of 94, Lt. Gen. Gregg was honored with the renaming of Fort Lee to Fort Gregg-Adams, making him the only living person to have a U.S. military installation named in their honor. This recognition reflects his groundbreaking contributions to the military and his dedication to advancing opportunities for African-American service members.

Lt. Gen. Gregg is survived by his daughters, Margy Steinmetz (Arno Steinmetz) of Einhausen, Germany and Alicia G. Collier of Richmond, Virginia; four grandchildren, Marc Steinmetz, Sydney Collier, Alexander Journey Gregg and Avery Collier. 

Remains rest at Scott's Funeral Home, 115 E. Brookland Park Blvd. where viewing will be held from 11 a.m. until 5 .m. Sunday, September 15, 2024. 

A private memorial service will be held 10 a.m. Monday, September 16 at the Fort Gregg-Adams Memorial Chapel with reception to follow. Due to limited space and seating, the memorial and reception will be by invite only. The service will be publicly available via Facebook at US Army Fort Gregg-Adams.

Lt. Gen. Gregg will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery at 11 a.m. Thursday, September 19, 2024. 

The Gregg Family requests in lieu of flowers donations In Memory of LTG Arthur Gregg be made to either the Morgan State ROTC Program or the Quartermaster Museum via the Quartermaster Foundation:

1)The ROTC Program at Morgan State in memory of Lt. General Gregg. Donations can be made by check to the Morgan State University Foundation (Write "ROTC - In memory of Lt. General Gregg" on the memo line and mail to MSUF, PO Box 64261, Baltimore, MD 21264-4261) or online at www.givetomorgan.org (Select “Other” and write "ROTC - In memory of Lt. General Gregg").

2)The Quartermaster Museum via the Army Quartermaster Foundation online at https://www.quartermasterfoundation.org (click on DONATE TODAY) or by personal check addressed to Army Quartermaster Foundation, 13203 N. Enon Church Rd, A-210, Chester, VA 23836.

Cards and letters of support to the family can be sent to:

Alicia Collier

C/O FGAV Command Team

3312 Adams Avenue, Building 12010

Fort Gregg-Adams, VA 23801

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