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<em>Edward Fox Grubbs, Jr.,</em> (“Joe” was his nickname) was appointed to USMA by Senator Martin of Pennsylvania and came to West Point in July 1951 from the Sullivan School. Earlier, he had graduated from Carson Long Military Institute, where he stood out in academics and athletics.</p>
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Joe was born 11 Jul 1932 in Harrisburg, PA. His parents were Edward F. and Musette J. Grubbs. He spent his childhood in New Bloomfield, Perry County, PA. Joe was mar­ried to the former Shirley M. Wagner for 48 years. Together, they created “a cohesive fam­ily with strong values.”</p>
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Joe was a very competitive athlete who played tennis and squash all four of his years as a cadet. According to one of his room­mates, “As a winner in squash and tennis, he never bragged about his victories. When he returned from a meet and was asked the results, he would simply say ‘we won,’ or ‘we lost.’ My four years rooming with Joe could not have been better. He was truly a good friend.” One of Joe’s playing partners had this to say about him: “Joe...was the type of teammate everyone hoped to have. Both in tennis and squash, Joe was a good athlete, but his performance exceeded expectations, because he was such a hard worker and so determined. We played both sports together for four years, thoroughly enjoyed Joe’s sense of humor and ever-cheerful outlook. Even though Joe and I didn’t see much of each other, except at practice and on trips, he was a friend whom I have always remembered as a really good person who will be missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.”</p>
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According to his son-in-law Michael, Joe was a modest man who never spoke of his many accomplishments and who had a “strong sense of responsibility to others, es­pecially to his family and his Country.” Joe’s daughters, Lynn, Susan, and Allison, re­membered “a quiet, steadfast man who was always there when they needed him.” His daughters said they “were always proud of their father, and they, like Shirley, knew how fortunate they were to share their lives with him.” They recalled that his nine grandchil­dren, who called him “Joey,” brought enor­mous joy to Joe’s life, and they in turn found comfort in his presence. He was a constant, steadfast figure to them.” Susan remem­bers her father as a man who “didn’t drink, smoke, or curse; he never had a cross word to say about anyone; he never complained, he rarely got angry, and he always worked hard. He honored God by leading our family in a Bible reading and prayer every night before supper, and he worshipped in church every Sunday.” Joe’s sister, Ann Caldwell, remem­bers her older brother as “a man who carried out a family educational and military legacy and made her so proud.”</p>
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Commissioned in the Infantry after graduation, Joe had an unusual variety of as­signments that suited his many talents. As a junior officer, he served in Infantry units and attended the Infantry School. After a tour with Eighth Army in Korea, he was selected to join the West Point faculty. He then attend­ed Catholic University in Brazil to improve his already impressive Portuguese language skills. He joined the Department of Foreign Languages, where he taught Portuguese un­til he was reassigned for service in Viet Nam with the 1st Infantry Division from 1968 to 1969. During this tour in Viet Nam, he earned the Combat Infantryman Badge.</p>
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In 1969, Joe returned to the Department of Foreign Languages as an assistant professor of Portuguese. During this teaching tour, in 1971, he earned a master of arts degree from New York University. He attended the Army Command and General Staff College from 1971 to 1972 and then served three years as assistant Army attaché in Portugal.</p>
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Joe was the Professor of Military Science at Scranton University from 1975 to 1979. He then served in the U.S. Army Institute for Military Assistance during 1979–83, before retiring from active duty in 1983 as a lieuten­ant colonel. According to his family, Joe’s fa­vorite assignments were teaching Portuguese at West Point and serving as an Army attaché in Portugal.</p>
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During his distinguished career as an Army officer and in recognition of his brav­ery and meritorious service to the Nation, Joe was awarded the Legion of Merit, three Bronze Star Medals, the Meritorious Service Medal, three Air Medals, and the Army Commendation Medal.</p>
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We miss you, Joe. God bless!</p>
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<em>—Family and classmates</em></p>