In Memoriam: LTG Arthur J. Gregg, 1928-2024

Team Exchange,

In August, our Nation and Team Exchange lost our good friend and national treasure, Lieutenant General Arthur J. Gregg, who passed away at age 96.

LTG Gregg, one of the namesakes of Fort Gregg-Adams, held the distinction of being the only living person in modern Army history to have an installation named after him.

The Exchange was in close communication with LTG Gregg as he had generously agreed to accept the 2024 Quality-of-Life Force Multiplier Award at the Army-Navy Game on December 14. The award honors those who have made significant contributions to Warfighters and their families.

LTG Gregg, who was commander of the Exchange’s European operations from 1972 to 1975, was thrilled to accept this honor and attend his very first Army-Navy Game. Just days before his passing, LTG Gregg kindly emailed me regarding logistics of a planned video shoot we were scheduled to have at his home on September 12th.

LTG Gregg was the epitome of a warrior with a servant’s heart. The renaming of Fort Lee to Fort Gregg-Adams in 2023 was meaningful recognition that brought his professional journey full circle: As a young officer, he served at Fort Lee beginning in 1950. When he arrived, the Army was still segregated, although that would change within months.

“Although President Truman’s executive order to integrate the armed forces was signed in 1948, when I arrived at Fort Lee in May of 1950, nothing had changed,” Gregg told the Exchange Post in a 2023 interview. “The good news is that things began to change rapidly during the second half of 1950.

“On a personal basis, I was assigned in late August to the Basic Officers Course at Fort Lee. There were about 125 officers in my class, and we were completely integrated,” he added. “About 10 of those officers were Black, the others weren’t, and we got along great together. It was a great learning experience for all of us.”

Retired Lt. Gen. Arthur J. Gregg, then 94, in the ballroom of the Lee Club at what was then Fort Lee. In 2023, Fort Lee was renamed Fort Gregg-Adams in honor of Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams, another barrier-breaking Black Army officer. (Photo by T. Anthony Bell)

LTG Gregg enlisted in the Army in 1946, shortly after World War II. He later earned a Meritorious Unit Citation for commanding one of the largest battalions in Vietnam in 1966, becoming a general officer in 1972. He earned his third star in 1977, when he was named director of logistics for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Gregg finished his career as chief, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Department of the Army, retiring in 1981 as the Army’s highest-ranking minority.

He is also part of Exchange history: Under his leadership in Europe, the Exchange adopted more efficient business practices, including a reduction of inventory, implementation of marketing and advertising techniques, and focusing on the needs of the European customer base.

“[We had] the responsibility and the opportunity to greatly expand the breadth of the goods and services we provided,” he told the Exchange Post. “We took that seriously and greatly expanded, for example, phonograph records. You know, when a young Soldier heard the latest hit on the radio, he or she wanted to go out to the PX and buy that record. So we developed a system of flying records over to Europe and into what we called Sound Centers so that a young Soldier and his family could have the latest hit within weeks and not months

“We also expanded the clothing, especially women’s clothing that we made available at our shopping centers,” he added. “And sewing was a very popular thing during that period, so we organized sewing centers in major shopping centers so that dependents, primarily, could go there and find the things they needed to make clothing at home.”

LTG Gregg is a shining example of the Exchange’s legacy of providing the comforts and tastes of home for military families living overseas. We are honored to continue that legacy of serving those who serve. He personified what it means to be a “Soldier for Life” and was present when Fort Lee was renamed Fort Gregg-Adams on April 27, 2023, two weeks before his 95^th birthday.

Our thoughts and prayers are with LTG Gregg’s family and friends as we remember his selfless service to our Nation.

It is an honor to serve those who serve as we celebrate the distinguished service of amazing Soldiers like LTG Gregg.

Family Serving Family!

Very best,

Tom

Tom Shull

Director/CEO