More detail on this person: Service related
injuries from being shot down in RVN. It is with
sadness that I must report that one of VHPA's
missing, Gregg Grant, was found to have passed
away. Gregg died on November 2, 1994 in Bangor,
Maine.
Gregory Grant was born on May 21, 1946 in
Caribou but moved to Presque Isle, Maine as he
entered high school. Gregg was a popular student
and athlete at Presque Isle High School. He was
president of the student council and co-captain of
the basketball team. In the spring he played
baseball. He graduated from high school in 1964.
He began college at the University of Maine in
Orono.
Gregg was a member of class 67-5 and awarded his
wings on May 9, 1967.
He was assigned to C Battery, 2nd Battalion, 20th
Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division in June of 1967.
On September 6, 1967, Gregory Grant was
assigned as copilot in aircraft 64-14028. Captain
Winston Robinson, age 24, from Rector, Alabama,
would serve as the pilot. The crew chief was SP4
Paul Clark, a 23 year old from Lynwood,
California. While providing close support the
aircraft's tail rotor was hit and the aircraft
went down. Only Gregg survived.
Gregg's body had been shattered. After being
stabilized he was airlifted to the U.S. Army
Medical Center in the Ryukyu Islands where he
spent many weeks. On October 12, 1967 Gregg
was awarded the Purple Heart.
Gregg was returned to Walter Reed Medical Center
in Washington D.C. and ultimately sent to the VA
hospital in Roxbury, Massachusetts. In December
1967, while he was still hospitalized, he was
discharged from the Army with a total disability.
Following many more long and painful months he
was discharged from the hospital. He eventually
learned to walk again, normally with the aid of at
least one cane. He was told that because of his
internal injuries he would have a dramatically
reduced lifespan.
Some might say that Gregg was not really a
survivor of the crash, only that he lived longer.
Those closest to him take strong exception. While
for most, the damage, pain and loss would have
been too great to bear; Gregg tried to pick up
where he had left off. He returned to Maine where
he married. The couple adopted two children.
Gregg was determined to work, support his family
and lead an active life. His body could not
always accommodate that desire.
Gregg was given about 25 additional years on this
earth. During those years he continued in and out
of hospitals. He endured more physical, mental,
and emotional hardship than most people will ever
know.
But those closest to him say that he fought the
good fight. They believe that he was left among
us for those additional years so that they might
learn from him; about courage, suffering,
determination, compassion, and themselves.
Gregg was laid to rest on a gentle hillside in the
State of Maine Veterans Cemetery in Augusta.
Burial information: State of Maine Veterans Cemetery, Augusta, ME
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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