SSG Tanner W. Grone

18 Aug 1998 – 10 Nov 2023

C Co, 1-160 SOAR

SSG Tanner W. Grone was born in Berlin, NH on August 18, 1998 and at the age of 3, moved to Gorham where he grew up and attended school. He loved soccer in school and made it to the quarter finals in his senior year, a high point for his team. Tanner’s passions included snowboarding and his Subaru WRX STI.

After graduating high school, he attended UNH for Engineering, but quickly learned it was not his path. After a year of school and lots of research, he decided that he would pursue a career in the Army. In 2017, having scored extremely high in ASVAB testing, he was given the choice of any career he wanted. He chose to be a Blackhawk mechanic where he was subsequently assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

After completing the regiment’s extensive assessment and training program in 2018, Grone reported to Fox Company, 1st Battalion, 160th SOAR (Airborne) for service as an MH-60M Repairer. Six months later, Staff Sgt Grone reported to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 160th SOAR (Airborne) and served as a flight instructor and fully mission-qualified MH-60M crew chief.

While serving in the 160th SOAR (Airborne), Grone deployed multiple times to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and supported several no-notice deployments and exercises worldwide in support of national security objectives.

Every time, Grone would call his parents and would tell them. “I’m leaving, can’t tell you where I’m going or for how long, love you. Call when I get back”. On his last deployment the Blackhawk helicopter he was in crashed in the Mediterranean Sea while on a training mission. All 5 on board did not survive. Tanner was planning on applying for flight school, which would have taken him to Fort Rucker, Alabama where his grandfather served.

He will be missed but never forgotten by his parents Erica and Steve, sister Emily and her husband Mike Lemoine and Willow. His childhood hometown friends Doug, Jarred, Matt, Justin, Lance and Chris, just to name a few. He will be remembered by his very large and supportive family and friends across the US and Canada. Tanner touched the lives of many in the Army and had countless “buddies”.  He was at his happiest and so very content with his career. Having recently bought a house and was just talking about getting a dog. He had a bright future in front of him and had found his true calling in life. Making this tragedy a little easier to accept is that he was doing what he loved and was passionate about. He will be missed by all.