Installation Renamings: The Stories of Lt. Gen. Arthur J. Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams

After more than a century under the name Fort Lee, the Virginia military installation is now officially known as Fort Gregg-Adams.

The Army post’s new name is in honor of Lt. Gen. Arthur J. Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams, two barrier-breaking Black Army officers who excelled in the field of sustainment.

Gregg, a former commander of the Exchange’s Europe operation, was the first African American to reach the rank of lieutenant general in the Army. Enlisting in 1946, he later earned a Meritorious Unit Citation for commanding one of the largest battalions in Vietnam in 1966, becoming a general officer in 1972.

Gregg assumed command of the Exchange’s Europe operation in April 1973, relocating to Munich, Germany. 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, were implemented under his leadership.

After two years with the Exchange in Munich, Gregg moved to Heidelberg to become deputy chief of staff, logistics. 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. Gregg, now 94, also now holds the distinction of being the only living person in modern Army history to have an installation named after him.

Lt. Col. Charity Adams was the highest-ranking Black woman officer during World War II. Joining the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAC)—later known as the Women’s Army Corps—in 1942, she excelled during training despite the racially segregated environment of Fort Des Moines, Iowa. She became the WAC’s first Black officer and was promoted to major in 1943, making her one of the highest-ranking WAC officers.

Adams deployed to Europe in December 1944, leading the 6888^th Central Postal Directory Battalion—the famed Six Triple Eight. It was the first Black WAC unit to serve overseas, sorting mail for delivery to Soldiers in Europe. She was promoted again to lieutenant colonel—the highest rank for a WAC Soldier—and served at the Pentagon after the war before requesting a discharge in 1946.

Fort Gregg-Adams is among nine U.S. Army installations to undergo a name change this year on the recommendation of the Commission on the Naming of Items of the Department of Defense.

The Exchange operates a main store, a troop mall complex, a troop store, three Expresses and more at the installation, which is home to the headquarters of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command and Sustainment Center of Excellence.

Preparing the Fort Gregg-Adams Exchange for the name change affected nearly every directorate, including IT, MD, FA, Corporate Communication and more.

“It is an honor to carry out the Exchange mission at an installation that is named for such brave, trailblazing Soldiers as Lt. Gen. Gregg and Lt. Col. Adams,” said General Manager Lajima Marshall-Pierce. “We hope to live up to the example they set as we serve those who serve today at Fort Gregg-Adams and across the globe.”