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Brandt Fox Grubbs was born on 6 Dec 1932 at Schofield
Barracks, HI, a son of the late COL Haydon Y. Grubbs, Sr., Class of ’25, and
Susan Brandt Grubbs. He was born into a dedicated Army family; four uncles were
West Point graduates, including MG Carl A. Brandt, U.S. Air Force. Brandt grew
up on numerous Army posts, including Schofield Barracks,
HI; Ft. Knox, KY; Ft. Jackson, SC, Ft. Bragg, NC, and the headquarters of GEN
Douglas MacArthur in Tokyo, Japan. Early on, he demonstrated the leadership
skills so apparent throughout his life when he was elected senior class
president at Mequro High School in Tokyo. He also was elected to the National
Honor Society and played on the school’s basketball and six-man football teams.
Brandt decided at a very young age that he would attend West
Point. After a period of study at Sullivan’s Preparatory School, he entered the
Academy in July 1950 with a Presidential appointment, one of the youngest
members of the Class of ’54. Brandt fit in well in Company E-2. His persistent
and common sense approach to the demanding military, academic and athletic
requirements won him the respect of his company mates and the tactical officer.
As a result, he was appointed a second class corporal and lieutenant his first
class year. At graduation in 1954, he entered the Infantry, completing the basic
course, airborne and Ranger training at Ft. Benning before joining the 13th
Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division, at Ft. Carson, CO. Platoon and company
duties in the States and then Germany preceded his assignment as aide-de-camp to
MG Harold K. Johnson, later to become Army Chief of Staff.
More company command and battalion level duties were performed
upon return to Ft. Riley, KS, in 1959. Selected the next year to attend the
infantry advanced course, he excelled in the Atomic Biological and Chemical
instruction during the year and was chosen to attend Tulane University in 1961
to obtain a degree in nuclear engineering. The plentiful diversions of the New
Orleans environment did not deter Brandt from obtaining his master’s degree with
honors; as he said later, “An ideal opportunity to study something I enjoyed, at
a place I really enjoyed.” After the two-year arduous academic pursuit, Brandt
was able to spend time with his parents, now living in Shalimar, FL, on a
picturesque bay leading to the Gulf of Mexico.
In 1963, Brandt joined the G-3 section of the 7th Infantry
Division in Korea. He was assigned as commandant of the division’s troubled NCO
academy, where he worked to upgrade the curriculum and standards. His efficiency
report reflected the success of his endeavors: “Captain Grubbs’ leadership in
raising the level of professionalism at the Academy was evident by the superior
reputation it now enjoys throughout the Division.” He returned to CONUS and the
Army staff for a classified utilization tour in the atomic energy branch and
later was chief of the branch. In 1967, as a major, he attended the MATA course
at Ft. Bragg and then joined the special operations group, Military Assistance
Command, Vietnam. Never to make too much of a very demanding and rather
dangerous tour, all Brandt would say is that it was “pretty interesting,
especially during Tet that spring.” LTC (since 1968) Grubbs attended the Command
& General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, KS, and, after graduation, went back
to Ft. Benning for a short period. He then volunteered to return to Vietnam and
in July 1970 joined I Field Force Vietnam as the chief, Operations Division,
G-3. The whole tour was non-stop, working closely with Marine, Navy and Air
Force staffers, monitoring the myriad of tactical actions, insuring higher
headquarters were kept apprised of ongoing and future operations, briefing the
command group, and, of course, visitors. He returned to Ft. Benning and had a
major role in developing the multitude of doctrine and organizational concepts
required for the Army in the seventies. As a senior team chief, test and
evaluation, combat developments command infantry, he was deeply involved in the
planning and execution of major field exercises at Ft. Bragg and Ft. Hood, such
as Project MASSTER. He decided in 1975 to retire and return to the gulf coast of
Florida to the property he’d purchased at Poquito Bayou in Shalimar. He would
now be able to help care for his aging parents, who lived nearby, along with his
brother Haydon, sister-in-law Lyn, niece Kimberly and nephew Haydon Young III.
After building his retirement home, he became involved in a multitude of civic
activities, primarily as a very dedicated member of the local Kiwanis Club. He
refurbished bicycles and old cars for auction at the many Kiwanis charities. At
Christmas every year he dressed as Santa Claus, taking meals and gifts to needy
families. For his devotion to these and other meaningful charitable activities,
Brandt was honored by the Kiwanis Club and the mayor of Fort Walton Beach, FL,
by the naming of 6 Oct 2002 as “Brandt Grubbs Appreciation Day.”
Brandt passed away 30 Apr 2010 after a lengthy illness. His
service to his country was recognized by two Bronze Stars, a Meritorious Service
Medal, two Commendation Medals, the Vietnam Service Medal with silver star,
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and National Defense Service Medal.
A proud graduate of West Point, Brandt served his country
faithfully with honor and distinction. Once you met him, he was your friend and
someone you could always count on. Those who were fortunate to be a friend
relate to his enthusiastic approach to life, his wry sense of humor,
selflessness, honesty and generous nature. He is remembered with love by his
brother, sister-in-law, nephew, and niece, as well as by numerous cousins, and
relatives throughout the country. Brandt has joined Easy Two’s already departed
Band of Brothers. Most probably, as a good Infantryman, he’s on point.
—Family & classmates
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