Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg, namesake of Virginia's Fort Gregg-Adams, dies at 96

In 2023 when Virginia's Fort Lee was renamed as a part of the U.S. Army's effort to remove the names of Confederate figures from the name of military installations, the name Fort Gregg-Adams was selected to honor two Black military pioneers, Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams.

While Lt. Col. Adams was the highest-ranking African American officer in World War II, Lt. Gen. Gregg was the highest-ranking African American officer at the time of his retirement. He was also the first black officer to be promoted to Brigadier General. Last week, retired Lt. Gen. Gregg passed away at the age of 96.

"The entire Fort Gregg-Adams family is deeply saddened by the loss of a great American and our namesake," said Maj. Gen. Michelle Donahue who is the commanding general of the Fort Gregg-Adams in an army press release. "Lt. Gen. Gregg will continue to inspire all who knew him and those who serve at Fort Gregg-Adams now and in the future. His dedication and leadership will never be forgotten. Our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time."

After Lt. Gen. Gregg passed, his family attended a ceremony on Fort Gregg-Adams in his memory.

"Our family is so very thankful for the outpouring of support after the death of my father, Arthur Gregg. We are so proud of the incredible legacy he has impressed on the Army and for our nation," said Alicia Collier who is Lt. Gen. Gregg's daughter. "Those accomplishments mean a lot, but our hearts ache for the loss of a wonderfully kind and loving father, grandfather, and friend. The world is a better place because Dad was a part of it."

Lt. Gen. Gregg enlisted at age 17 and was deployed to serve in occupied Germany in 1946. He attended Officer Candidate School (OCS) in 1949, just a one year after the Army ended segregation.