IN MEMORIAM

Marine Lt. Col. Gregory Ehrmann, 61;

Richfield Native, Noted Reenactor

RICHFIELD SPRINGS – Marine Lt. Col. (ret.) Gregory M. Ehrmann, 61, of Stafford, Va., a Richfield Springs native and, in his retirement, an avid reenactor of historic battles, passed away on June 24, 2016, at UVA Medical Center, where he was recovering from a liver transplant.  His family was by his side.

SEE SLIDE SHOW ON HIS LIFE

Greg was born on Jan. 1, 1955, in Herkimer, to George and Joyce Ehrmann of Richfield Springs.  His father and grandfather operated the Ehrmann Pharmacy there.  He graduated from Richfield Springs High School, where played four years of football and also wrestled.  He was a member of the Varsity Club and was a Prep All-American in football his senior year.  He went on to play football for four years at SUNY Plattsburgh, where he received his bachelor’s degree.

He went on for a master’s at Webster University in St. Louis, where he met a fellow classmate, Pamela J. Fisher, whom he fell in love with and pursued his greatest achievement in life as husband and father of five children. Greg and Pam would have been married for 38 years in November.

Greg retired from the Marine Corps after serving his country for 28 years. He went on to work as a defense contractor in the Stafford area. His love for history and our country was deep.

Greg was a passionate man who was a huge part of his children’s lives. He volunteered to coach soccer for all three of his girls, and his love of Boy Scouts started at a young age and continued on with both of his sons.

He was a third-degree member of the Knights of Columbus, the treasurer of the National Federation of the Blind, a devout Catholic, and a devoted foster parent. Greg received both distinguished military honors and was inducted into the Richfield Springs Athletic Hall of Fame.  He was a member of include the British Officers Club, Scottish Society of Fredericksburg, Historical Miniature Gaming Society and the Brigade of the American Revolution, and was a Tennessee Squire. Greg also contributed to the Battle of Trenton diorama of miniatures.

His commitment and participation in military reenactment activities was celebrated in the community. Greg was a member of the 1st Virginia and 3rd Virginia Muskets of the Crown von Roeder Hessian-Ansbach Jaeger unit recreating the American War of Independence. He was also a member of the Virginia 77th Regiment (Montgomery’s), and Highlander’s Regiment (Muskets of the Crown) recreating the French & Indian War. Greg was also the Southern Regional Coordinator of the Brigade of the American Revolution (BAR), which was one of the premier reenacting umbrella groups in the country.

Greg was the commander of the Virginia Regiment portraying a young George Washington at the 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Great Meadows in Fort Necessity. He was the adjutant of the Continental Army at the Anniversary of the Siege of Charleston.

He was an ardent historian of American and European History, with a special interest in the American Revolution. Some would say he’s an encyclopedia on military history. He was a collector of a wide variety of military uniforms, hats, miniatures, model airplanes, artwork and books. He never left the house without a book in his hand and was a talented artist for all of his life.

What he loved most in the world was being a Marine. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in college through the Officers Candidates School (OCS) and was commissioned a second lieutenant in May 1978. After completing OCS and the Basics School, Greg attended the Communications Officers Course in Quantico, Va., during which time he married Pamela Fisher. Upon completion of the Communications School, Greg and Pam moved to Camp Lejeune, N.C., where he was assigned to two shipboard deployments to the Mediterranean Sea. In 1981, Greg and Pam moved to Beaufort, S.C., where Greg worked as a communications officer at the Marine Corps Air Station. Over the course of their 28 year career, Pam and Greg lived in Quantico, Va.; Boston, and New Bern and Beaufort, S.C.

During his 28-year career, Greg served in numerous command and support billets to include being the commanding officer of the Boston Military Entrance Processing Station. Greg deployed to multiple locations around the globe including Europe, Okinawa, Korea, Japan, and Norway. Greg was an expert rifle and pistol marksman who attended the Army Airborne Jump School at Fort Benning, GA. His personal medals and awards include the:

• Joint Chiefs of Staff Badge
• Navy Arctic Service Ribbon
• Joint Meritorious Unit Award Ribbon
• Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 2 Gold Stars
• Meritorious Unit Commendation Award Ribbon with 4 Gold Stars
• Humanitarian Service Medal
• National Defense Service Medal
• Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
• Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal
• Joint Service Achievement Medal
• Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal
• Joint Service Commendation Medal
• Meritorious Service Medal
• Defense Meritorious Service Medal

He is survived by his loving wife, Pamela; three daughters, Katheryne Padgett and husband Tony; Julie Ehrmann and KP; Sarah Ehrmann and Ben; and two sons, Christopher and James Ehrmann; father, George Ehrmann of Richfield Springs; brother, Eric Ehrmann and wife, Tamara; and five beloved dogs, Maggie, Matilda, Charlotte, Olive, and Louie. He is also survived by his mother-in-law Linda Fisher of Fredericksburg; brother-in-law Mike Fisher of Pleasantville; Diane and Jamie Rakoff of Scarsdale; John and Sue Fisher of Danbury, Conn.; and nine loving nieces and nephews: Matt, Missy (engaged to Al), Jonathan (married to Megan), Ben, Michele, Michael, Andy, Jackie, and Tommy.

Greg’s mother Joyce passed in June 2015.

Greg was a true fighter who epitomized the warrior spirit. For years, Greg suffered from liver disease. He received a miracle in a liver transplant in April 2016, but after fighting for his life for nine weeks, he ultimately succumbed to complications. The entire Ehrmann family  wants to thank all those who supported and helped him. Greg was touched by many people who made a positive difference in his life. On behalf of Greg – thank you!

The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Thursday, June 30, at Mullins & Thompson Funeral Service, Stafford. A funeral mass is planned at 11 a.m. Friday, July 1, at St. William of York Catholic Church, with interment to follow in Quantico National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that contributions be made in his name to the James Ehrmann college fund. A GoFundMe account has been set-up under the memorial name of “The Greg and James Ehrmann College Fund.”