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<p><em>Allen Frederick “Al” Grum</em> was born on October 6, 1931 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. His father, Major Allen Ferdinand Grum, was a career Ordnance officer who served in World War I. His grandfather was a German émigré who joined the Army and served as a commissary sergeant and tugboat captain. His father suffered a paralyzing stroke and was assigned to Fort Sam Houston, TX for rehabilitation and ultimately was medically retired from the Army. Al’s formative years were spent in San Antonio, where he and his siblings, Clifford Grum and Sue Redding, were profoundly influenced by their mother, Nathalie—a strong, loving, and stoic Army wife who ensured the children achieved great things while caring for her bedridden husband.</p>
<p>Al entered West Point on July 1, 1949 with the Class of 1953 and was assigned to Company C-1, where he excelled at academics and leadership, serving as a cadet captain on the corps staff. More importantly, he developed lifelong friendships with his fellow Class of ’53ers that went on to have a profound impact on the Army.</p>
<p>After graduation, Al branched Engineers and headed to Korea to serve as a platoon leader and company commander in the 2nd Infantry Division after the armistice was signed. He returned to the States and was assigned to the Corps of Engineers at Fort Campbell, KY. One weekend he went to Vanderbilt for a blind double date. His date fell ill, so her roommate, Jane Patterson, went in her place, and “the rest is history.” They were married in Aiken, SC (where Jane’s parents lived) in June 1956 and headed to Cambridge, MA, where Al received a Master of Science at MIT. From there they headed to Washington, DC, where their first child, Allen Grum Jr., was born. The young couple took new assignments and had more children along the way, with David born at Fort Belvoir, VA, then on to Bordeaux, France and Heidelberg, Germany, where Pat was born, and on to West Point as an assistant professor where twin sisters, Carrie and Stacey, were born. After West Point in 1967, Al deployed to Vietnam, where he was the battalion commander of the 589th Engineer Battalion. Jane moved the family to Aiken to be near her parents. Al returned from Vietnam and was assigned to the Pentagon, where he worked on several key engineering initiatives. After graduating from the Army War College, the Grums headed to Stanford University, where Al completed his Ph.D. in engineering economic systems prior to returning to West Point as a permanent professor. </p>
<p>The assignment to USMA as the deputy head (then head) of the Engineering Department was the pinnacle of his stellar military career and a wonderful time for the Grum family after so many moves. Jane mentored many of the department wives, and the Grum house was always open to visiting classmates, department parties, and cadets. He had a significant impact on the Engineering Department, which he shepherded through the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology accreditation. Als final assignment was as commander of the Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksburg, MS. </p>
<p> Al’s next career combined his two passions: teaching and service to his country. Al and Jane headed to Macon, GA to start a new engineering school at Mercer University. Al and Jane spent many happy years in Macon, and his influence on the students he taught was immeasurable. He was also an active member of the Army Science Board and worked at the Army Research Labs in Adelphi, MD and Raleigh, NC, mentoring teams of world-renowned scientists doing critical research for the military. </p>
<p>Upon retirement from Mercer University, Al and Jane spent many years in Atlanta, GA before their final move to Riderwood Village in Silver Spring, MD. They enjoyed traveling, taking cruises throughout the world, and the company of their children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. </p>
<p>Al’s distinguished career spanned over three decades and included significant leadership roles in Korea and Vietnam. The preponderance of his career was spent at West Point, where his professionalism and mastery of engineering was of most benefit to the Army. His influence on the cadets, officers, and enlisted personnel he mentored is inestimable as many went on to become senior leaders in the military. He will be remembered for his significant career accomplishments and his patriotism, but more so for his love of his family, especially his wife Jane, his wonderful sense of humor, and the relationships he forged and cultivated throughout his long life. </p>
<p>Al is preceded in death by his parents, Major Allen Grum and Mrs. Nathalie Grum, as well as his brother, Clifford Julien Grum. He is survived by his sister, Sue Redding; his wife, Jane Patterson Grum; and his children: Allen “Pete” Grum Jr. (Jessica Grum), David Grum, Pat Grum (Mary Grum), Colonel Stacey Grum Koff (Retired) [Jonathan Koff] and Colonel Carrie (Grum) Benton (Retired) [Rear Admiral Bruce Doll (Retired)]. His Grandchildren include Catelyn Koff Wood (Chris Wood), Isabelle Koff, Matthew Koff, Sydney Benton, Specialist Charlie Benton (Rielly Benton), Captain Maxwell Grum (Kamila Grochowski-Grum), Nathaniel Grum, and Ian Grum. His great-grandchildren include Atlas Benton and Jay Benton. </p>
<p><em>— Family</em></p>
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