Gregory "Greg" Frey, in honor & tribute & memory to his (twin) brother, LtCol Grant V. *************
Please sit back, read & learn a bit more about a GREAT man (whose life & philosophy is THE REASON why this Nonprofit Foundation and this Face Book page were created:
1. Frey ----- LONG before he began his distinquished military career ----- was born in Balboa (nka Newport Beach), California and raised from "Keiki Days" in Honolulu, Hawaii. Frey attended Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon and graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Frey also held a Master of Science degree from Indiana University and a Master of Military Studies degree from Marine Corps University, Quantico, Virginia. Frey commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1986 and would rise to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel upon retirement from active service in 2008.
2. Lieutenant Colonel Frey's staff assignments included: Administrative Officer (1989) and Logistics Officer (1989-1990), Provost Marshal Office, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Executive Officer, Military Police Company, Headquarters Battalion, 2d Marine Division (1989-1990); Battalion Adjutant (1990 & 1992) and Command Staff Secretary (1992-1993), Headquarters and Service Battalion, 3d Force Service Support Group, Okinawa, Japan; Division Administrative Officer and Action Officer, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, DC (1993-1997); Provost Marshal, First Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California (1997-2000); Deputy Provost Marshal (2001-2002) and Provost Marshal (2002-2003), Provost Marshal Office, Security Battalion, Camp Pendleton, California; and Provost Marshal, Provost Marshal Office, Marine Corps Base, Hawaii (2005-2008).
3. Lieutenant Colonel Frey's Deployments include the following: Provost Marshal, Military Police Detachment Commander, and Antiterrorism Officer in all three Marine Expeditionary Forces throughout the Western Pacific, Southeast and Southwest Asia areas of operation; and Baghdad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as the Deputy Chief, Antiterrorism/Force Protection Section, Combined Operations, Multi-National Corps-Iraq (2006).
4. After retiring from active service, Mr. Frey served as the U.S. Pacific Region Law Enforcement Coordinator with Homeland Security Solutions, Inc. (2008-2009) and subsequently with the Federal Government as the Law Enforcement and Emergency Management Director (2009-2010), assigned to the Operations Division, U.S. Marine Forces Pacific, Camp H. Smith, Hawaii. In 2010, Mr. Frey assumed the duties as the Executive Director, Marine Corps Police Academy—West, Supporting Establishment Law Enforcement – Law Enforcement, Investigations and Corrections Branch, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, located at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California.
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On a personal level, with the deepest and most genuine of emotion & admiration & respect, in his "verbatim" words (UPDATED to current in places, in brackets) please read this touching tribute from P. GREGORY "Greg" FREY, the dedicated Founder & Owner & President of this Nonprofit Foundation, to his (twin) brother, LtCol GRANT V. FREY, USMC (Ret.), shared on SOCIAL MEDIA only a few short days before GRANT's burial "Back Home" in his & their 808 Island State of HAWAII. GREG's words, literally dripping with passion & tribute, will give each of you (our supporters, contributors & friends) a crystal clear idea of just how meaningful the "start-up", success & longevity of this nonprofit is to not only GREG, but to our entire Leadership and team, to include Board Members & Officers. GRANT matters. This nonprofit matters. It will move forward to financially assist many folks in need with your help and your energy. It is with pride & honor that GREG's words are offered here, literally "word-for-word" (UPDATED in brackets as appropriate), as follows:
" OUR 808 ISLAND STATE. OUR UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. OUR WORLD. OUR COLLECTIVE AND INDIVIDUAL LIVES. It's all been literally torn apart by COVID-19. Lost jobs. Closed businesses. Illness. Infection. Hospitalization. DEATH & DESPAIR. One need only read this morning's [02/23/21] front page of the STAR-ADVERTISER to be reminded just how deadly COVID-19 is and has been to so many. STAY SAFE. DON'T be forced to deal with & try to handle COVID-19 in its most vicious form. PLEASE. THIS WEEK IS DIFFICULT. THIS WEEK IS EXCRUCIATING. THIS WEEK IS A CHALLENGE BEYOND ANY I or any member of my (small yet close) 'OHANA HAS EVER FACED. THIS WEEK WE BURY MY (twin) BROTHER, GRANT. PLEASE, for me & for my 'Ohana, READ-ON:
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LtCol GRANT V. FREY, USMC (Ret.) NEVER backed down from a challenge, no matter how daunting. He always did what it took to succeed, no matter the effort. His tragic illness was no different. After 3 very difficult months in 3 hospitals (ICU, Rehab, PT) literally fighting for his life against dreaded COVID-19, to include several weeks on life support, GRANT beat all odds and every prognosis. GRANT survived COVID and he was discharged on 12/18/20, only to die 8 days later on 12/26/20 in his sleep of COVID (his internal organs were simply too damaged to sustain his life) on his way to his new job & new home (purchased but so tragically, never lived in; GRANT never made it there!) & new life in MISSOURI. GRANT courageously did until the very end what he always did in life. "He fought the good fight", and lived by the informal (albeit exceptionally important and meaningful motto oft-times adopted by the [twin] Brothers FREY): "Start Small. Then, Stand Tall".
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GRANT may not have been a hero, BUT he was my hero. Loss of any family member is beyond emotional & terrible, BUT allow me to opine & say, to lose a twin is literally to lose one-half of yourself. We have the exact same DNA, for God's sake. Truth be told, although I have never admitted it out loud, I am nowhere near as strong and as tough as GRANT was (even though I am "the older one" as GRANT loved to say, by 8 minutes), and so I always thought I'd go first so that I'd be spared the pain & anguish of losing my twin, my brother, my hero. As tough as it has been, SO MANY folks who worked with, knew, respected & loved GRANT have graciously helped me & our close-knit family to literally "pull off the impossible". Thankfully, and certainly befitting of his almost 22-years of dedicated & loyal service to our country as a USMC Officer, GRANT will be buried with honors at the NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY OF THE PACIFIC (Punchbowl). He has always wanted to come home. As is said, you never leave HAWAII no matter where you are or where you go. NOW, prayers answered, GRANT will bid ALOHA to us this week, and forever lie in peace, HOME. GRANT IS HOME. APOLOGIES. HUMBLE APOLOGIES. Funerals are a time to embrace, to come together to support one another and to fondly say ALOHA. COVID-19 has destroyed this tradition as well. NO MORE THAN 10 are able to attend GRANT's modest graveside service, and most who will be there are Marines he served with and who knew & respected GRANT as the exceptional leader he was (as is oft-times said, "Once a Marine, ALWAYS a Marine"). NONE OF US will be able to embrace. NONE OF US will be able to be any nearer to one another than 6'. ALL OF US will simply be able to tear-up in masks. THIS IS NO WAY TO SAY ALOHA, but it is the only way @ present. SO MANY WANTED TO BE THERE, and we are SO SORRY you can't be. It's simply not allowed. REST ASSURED, however, Lovely MIA & I will host a "Celebration of Life" / Pa'ina ("party") both here in our Islands (SLAA Clubhouse, of course) & in MIRAMAR / Mira Mesa, CA (Grant's home & workplace for over 10 years, and where he endeared himself to the community and to so many folks living there) IF & WHEN COVID-19 restrictions are entirely lifted. We will ALL come together for GRANT. It might not be for awhile, BUT we will gather. We will celebrate. We will Pa'ina. AS I DID FOR OUR LATE FATHER when he so tragically passed away long before his time decades ago, I wrote GRANT's Obituary, and how does one "sum-up" the life of a Champion? The life of a hero. It's not possible. But, I tried, and it should publish in our STAR-ADVERTISER soon (but most-likely not until after the funeral). Look for it, and celebrate GRANT in your own private way. (UPDATED: The Obituary, in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, was published on the very day Grant was interred, 02/26/2021) (UPDATED FURTHER: On 07/28/2021, a second Obituary was published in the San Diego Union-Tribune to allow Grant's Friends & co-workers in SO CAL to honor and pay respects and tribute to this GREAT man)(UPDATE: And because GRANT’s hires, LINDSAY [fka Grant, Jr.] & LAUREN wanted to publish on the mainland where many folks across our great country admired, respected & loved GRANT). My energy is also focused @ present on the creation of a CHARITABLE FOUNDATION in honor of GRANT, which will do what he often liked to do --- HELP THOSE WHO NEED IT. Please watch for the website, and for more information. IRS approval of a 501 c3 literally takes "forever", but amazing progress is being made, in honor of and in tribute to GRANT. has been created & has been filed here in our Islands. The dba, The Wishes GRANTed Foundation, is pending. (UPDATED: The dba has likewise been filed & approved by the SOH DCCA)(UPDATED FURTHER: The IRS has formally approved our Nonprofit as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt 509(a)(2) Public Charity). Our Board of Directors has been placed as have the Board officers. The Foundation Logo has been created, and I gotta say, it's BAD ASS (MAHALO, Hanai Brother, Kevin R.). Certainly, this nonprofit hopes to attract money donations going forward (so that these monies can be used to help others), BUT that time will come (current donations, IF they come, are NOT tax deductible, and unfortunately can't be until the IRS approves the pending application for 501c3 tax-exempt status)(UPDATED: The Nonprofit may now accept tax-deductible (monetary) donations, and has in inventory a written acknowledgement that the donation is tax-exempt [subject to consultation & advise of income tax professionals]). FOR NOW, the mere "start-up" of this Foundation comforts me & our family, and I hope ----- NO, I know ----- GRANT is smiling, and saying to me, "Good job, Brother, but don't screw it up!!". PLEASE SAY A PRAYER FOR GRANT & OUR FAMILY FREY. PLEASE KNOW HOW MUCH WE WANTED TO HAVE SO MANY OF YOU WITH US @ HIS FUNERAL ----- a mere 10 is allowed, and no more ----- AND PLEASE KNOW WE WILL PA'INA FOR MY BROTHER, MY HERO ON DOWN THE ROAD A BIT. STAY SAFE, EVERYONE. NOW, ENJOY SOME OF MY FAVORITE PICTURES OF "THE LIFE & TIMES" OF BROTHER GRANT as we all bid him A HUI HOU (UPDATED: The Nonprofit’s WEBSITE will launch & debut to the world in DECEMBER 2021, hopefully to coincide with the day GRANT’s modest car & 3-motorcycle collection “hit the auction block” at MECUM KANSAS CITY on DECEMBER 2, 2021, Day 1, LOTS T61 - T64. The website will include literally dozens of pictures, and a video or 2, which try as best as possible to pay tribute to GRANT’s all too short but exceptionally meaningful life, to himself and more so to & for others) (FURTHER UPDATE: The Website formally launched to the world on 12/26/2021, on the First Anniversary of GRANT's tragic & untimely death). P.S. If I might, this has been a very emotional journey to write these words, and to post these pictures, BUT truth be told, I did it to try to help me "survive" GRANT's tragic & untimely death by this KILLER COVID-19 VIRUS. It's a bit of therapy for me, and perhaps a bit selfish, BUT while I have been criticized in the past for being "so over the top positive" about my brother, that's a criticism I can take easily & a badge of honor for me now. MAHALO for letting me share GRANT with you, especially since so few of you can bid aloha in person when we bury GRANT later this week "
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Copyright © 2021. SeMPer FREY Inc. dba The Wishes GRANTed Foundation - All Rights Reserved. This Foundation is not endorsed or sanctioned by the Heirs of GVF's Estate or their Affiliates & Agents, if any.
