Granville Attaway Sharpe – Colonel, United States Army

From a contemporary press report:

Colonel Granville Attaway Sharpe of Altamonte Springs, Florida, died October 17, 1998.

Born in Burlington on April 4, 1920, he was the husband of Mrs. Alice Withers Sharpe, who survives (note: died on 7 April 2003) and the son of Mr. Robert Sharpe and Mrs. Hilda Sharpe, both deceased. He was a Burlington High School and Davidson College graduate.

He was an Army veteran of World War II, and was a veteran of the Omaha Beach landing. He participated in the Battle of the Bulge, and at age 24 became the youngest lieutenant colonel in the European Theater of Operations. After combat in Germany and Korea, he was promoted to full colonel at age 35. He commanded U.S. troops sent to aid earthquake victims in Agadir, Morrocco, and he was a part of the force that evacuated Americans and other noncombatants in rioting and rebel fighting in the Congo.

Decorations received by Colonel Sharpe included two Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, five Bronze Hearts, the Army Commendation Medal, two Presidential Unit Citations and the Joint Service Commendation Medal.

He attended the Command and General Staff College, the Armed Forces Staff College and the National War College. He was on the faculty of the Army War College. He retired in 1968 and served several years as president of Sharpe Construction.

Survivors other than his wife include two daughters, Dr. Charlotte Sharpe Daly of Altamonte Springs and Ms. Martha Withers Sharpe of Alexandria, Virginia; one son, Mr. Granville Attaway Sharpe Jr.; two sisters, Ms. Calva Sharpe Sellars of Mebane, Ms. Margaret Sharpe Younger of Sierra Vista, Arizona a brother, Mr. Robert Adam Sharpe Jr. of Raleigh; and three grandchildren.

Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

SHARPE, GRANVILLE ATTAWAY

• COL   US ARMY
• WORLD WAR II, KOREA
• DATE OF BIRTH: 04/04/1920
• DATE OF DEATH: 10/17/1998
• BURIED AT: SECTION 65  SITE 2478
• ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

SHARPE, ALICE WITHERS

• DATE OF BIRTH: 06/01/1922
• DATE OF DEATH: 04/07/2003
• BURIED AT: SECTION 65  SITE 2478
• ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
• WIFE OF SHARPE, GRANVILLE ATTAWAY COL US ARMY

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard