| 12/19/2011 11:37:00 PM L. Len Gregg |
| L. Len Gregg, 88, of Warrensburg, Missouri passed away Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, at Western Missouri Medical Center. He was born Feb. 13, 1923, in Lone Jack, the son of Luther L. and Flora (Burns) Gregg II. On Aug. 14, 1949, he was united in marriage to Eleanor Louise Roop in Warrensburg. Len was a 1941 graduate of Centerview High School. He was a freshman at Central Missouri State University when Pearl Harbor was bombed on Dec. 7, 1941. He promptly quit school and joined the U.S. Army Air Force. Len trained and flew B-17 bombers during WWII and was shot down three times over Germany in 12 missions. On his third mission, he was shot down, but escaped capture. However, he was shot down again on his 12th mission and captured, and became a P.O.W. at Stalag 7A in Germany. Then in 1945, Len's prayers were answered when Gen. George Patton and his army freed the POWs of Stalaag 7A. Len stated that one of the most beautiful sights he ever saw was American soldiers ripping down the swastika from their camp and raising the American flag in its place. Len stated, "People don't realize what they have under our flag until they lose it for a while." Stalag 7a POW Camp After the war, Len attended and graduated from Central Missouri State University, receiving both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Education. He later attended and received a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Kansas. Len was a past president of Warrensburg Noon Rotary and a Paul Harris Fellow, and past district governor of Rotary International. He was a former principal of Warrensburg College Laboratory School, taught education classes at Central Missouri State University, and was supervisor over student teachers until his retirement. Len was a member of the Warrensburg Elks Club #673, and a past Exalted Ruler. He was a member of the Warrensburg Masonic Temple #265. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Warrensburg and also served as deacon. He was a member of the Sedalia P.O.W. Chapter. L. Len Gregg is survived by his wife, Louise; two daughters, Bethene Gregg of Roeland Park, Kan., and Janis Gregg and husband, Roger Dickson, of Richmond, Va.; two sisters, Louise Mayfield of Warrensburg and Doris Scott and husband, Keith, of Springfield; one nephew, Jared Scott of Springfield; and one niece, Mary Ann Pratt of Lee's Summit. He was preceded in death by his parents. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22, at the First Presbyterian Church in Warrensburg, with Pastor Don Wilson officiating. Burial will be at Warrensburg Memorial Gardens Cemetery with full military honors provided by Whiteman Air Force Base Color Guard. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until service time Thursday at the church. Memorial contributions are suggested to the First Presbyterian Church of Warrensburg and can be left at Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home in Warrensburg. |
We have heard the sad news that one of Warrensburg's favorite and best educators, World War II veteran, hero, and prisoner of war, Dr. Len Gregg has passed away. Our prayers and condolences go out to Louise, Dr. Bethene Gregg and Janis on the news of Dr. Gregg's passing, from the Classes of 73, Warrensburg, Missouri. Mrs. Gregg was our long-time girls PE coach and teacher at WHS.
- Name:
- Luther L. Gregg
- Date of Birth:
- 1923
- Place of Birth:
- Lone Jack, MO
- Gender:
- Male
- Race:
- White
- Home State:
- MO
- War or Conflict:
- World War, 1939-1945
- Status:
- Veteran
- Dates of Service:
- 1942-1945
- Branch of Service:
- Army Air Forces/Corps
- Unit of Service:
- 840th Bomb Squadron, 483rd Bomb Group, 15th Air Force
- Location of Service:
- Perrin Field (basic training), Ellington Field, San Antonio and Coleman, Texas; Dyersburg, Tennessee; Omaha, Nebraska; Bangor, Maine; Casablanca, Morocco North Africa; Pisa, Italy
- Highest Rank:
- Second Lieutenant
- Prisoner of War:
- Unknown
- Service Related Injury:
- Unknown
- Service History Note:
- Veteran served as a pilot of a B-17. He bailed out on the third mission and made a crash landing on his 17th mission.
Collection Information
- Interviewer:
- Joseph T. Bryant
- Contributor Affiliation/Organization:
- Branson Veterans Task Force
- Collection #:
- AFC/2001/001/39973
- Subjects:
- Gregg, Luther
World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
United States. Army Air Forces/Corps. - Cite as:
- Luther Gregg Collection (AFC/2001/001/39973), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
- Repository Location:
- Branson Veterans Task Force
No comments:
Post a Comment