Retired Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg, who began his military career at, and then returned several times to the Army post that would later bear his name, has died.
Gregg died Thursday at the age of 96, officials at Fort Gregg-Adams announced in a statement. No cause of death was given.
“The entire Fort Gregg-Adams family is deeply saddened by the loss of a great American and our namesake,” post commander Maj. Gen. Michelle Donahue said in the statement. “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.”
Since the Prince George County Army post's name was changed from Fort Lee in April 2023, Gregg was a frequent visitor from his home in Prince William County, Virginia. His last appearance on post was July 31 when he attended a garrison change-of-command ceremony.
“Lt. Gen. Gregg’s love and commitment for this installation and for this community is forever part of our identity—part of our character,” garrison commander Col. Richard Bendelewski said in the statement. “We will proudly carry his legacy forward as Fort Gregg-Adams.”
Post launched Gregg's military career
A South Carolina native, Gregg joined the Army in 1946 at what was then called Camp Lee. By the time he retired from active duty in 1981, he had risen through the ranks to become the first Black brigadier general in the Army Quartermaster Corps in 1972, and the first Black lieutenant general in the entire Army five years later.
He eventually became the Army’s deputy chief of staff for logistics, a post from when he retired.
Of all his accomplishments, Gregg always considered his service in Vietnam as his proudest moment. As a freshly minted lieutenant colonel, he commanded the 96 th Quartermaster Direct Support Battalion.
“It was a great assignment, and I felt we were doing a great job for the United States of America and for the world,” Gregg said in an interview that coincided with the renaming of the post.
A reflection of inclusivity
Fort Lee was one of 10 military installations named in honor of Confederate leaders from the American Civil War. Three of them were in Virginia – Lee, named for Confederate commanding general Robert E. Lee; and A.P. Hill in Caroline County and Pickett in Nottoway County, both named for two of Lee’s top generals under his command. A.P. Hill is now Fort Walker in honor of Dr. Mary Walker, a Civil War surgeon and the only non-military member to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. Pickett is now Fort Barfoot , named for the late Lt. Col. Van Barfoot, a World War II hero who also received the Medal of Honor.
The name changes were done to reflect the changing course of American culture in the wake of tensions over treatment of minorities and to make the Army appear to be more inclusive. Nine of the 10 were active Army installations, while the 10th, Fort Barfoot, was a former Army post now under the direction of the Virginia National Guard.
More: Fort Lee officially gets its new name, Fort Gregg-Adams, next month
Gregg experienced firsthand the indignities of segregation. While at Fort Lee, he was not allowed to enter the post officer’s club and other civic and social gathering places because of the color of his skin.
That moment was not lost on him when he came to the post rededication ceremony on April 27, 2023.
“It was troubling,” Gregg told The Progress-Index then. “General Lee had a tremendous record as a soldier, as a graduate of the Military Academy. But during a critical time in our history and certainly in his life, he elected to go to the other side. We are troubled by anyone deserting the United States Army and going to the other side and fighting against us.”
Gregg called the renaming of the post in his honor overwhelming.
“I was obviously very honored that they felt I was worthy of my name being here,” he told The P-I “But you know, you don’t take it too seriously that early in the process because I was aware of a number of really outstanding people under consideration, so I bided my time. Then when the decision was made that the post would be redesignated Gregg-Adams, I was really overwhelmed with pride and with joy.”
Naming Fort Lee for Gregg was both a personal and professional accomplishment for then-Rep. Donald McEachin, D-Virginia, whose father and Gregg were longtime friends. McEachin said he believed it would be fitting for Fort Lee to bear Gregg’s name, so he rallied from across the area and state for the change.
The change was approved in May 2022. Unfortunately, McEachin did not live long enough to see the new signs go up, as he died that November of complications from cancer.
Many firsts in the new name
The other name on the post’s sign – Adams – honors Lt. Col. Charity Adams, the first Black woman to be commissioned an Army officer. Adams, who died in 2002, was also the first to command a battalion as she led the 6888 th , a group of Black and Hispanic women who carried mail in the European Theater of World War II.
Fort Gregg-Adams made history on three levels with its name. The post was the first to be named in honor of Black soldiers, the first to be named for two people and the first to be named for someone still alive at the time.
Funeral arrangements for Gregg have not been announced. He is survived by a daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren.
His wife, Charlene, died in 2006. A daughter died three years later.
Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI.
This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Arthur Gregg, for whom Fort Lee's name was changed, dies at 96
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