James Earl Musgrove

James Earl Musgrove, 90 of Crawfordville, passed away at home on August 27, 2023. CSM James Earl Musgrove was born in Caryville, Florida on July 6, 1933. In 1951 he joined the National Guard Company in Panama City. In 1952 he attended the 16-week NCO leadership course at Fort Benning. He returned to Active Duty with his enlistment in the 11th Airborne Division. The 11th was reorganized as the 24th Infantry Division on July 1,1958 but kept the two Airborne Battle Groups: the 187th and the 503rd. He served with the 187th Infantry Division and deployed to Beirut Lebanon in 1958. CSM Musgrove deployed back to Fort Campbell Kentucky and was assigned to the 319th Artillery Battalion. In February 1959 he was accepted to the Division Jump School for an instructor assignment. He would serve there until 1962 when he was reassigned to the 2nd Battalion 502nd Infantry. He served as a Recon Platoon Sergeant until he was again reassigned to the 5th Corps Long Range Reconnaissance Company in Frankfurt Germany in 1964. After six months he applied for the 10th Special Forces Group at Bad Tolz. In 1967 CSM Musgrove deployed to Vietnam with the 5th Special Forces Group. CSM Musgrove would redeploy to serve in the Berlin Brigade in 1969. His next assignment was to Fort Benning Georgia in A Company 29th Mechanized Infantry Brigade. In 1974 he graduated from the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy and served as the Operations Sergeant Major before transferring to the 3rd Infantry Division. He was reassigned back to Fort Campell as the Command Sergeant Major of 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry in July 1978. He then served as the Brigade CSM for the Eagle Support Brigade before retiring in July 1980 after twenty-eight years active and over thirty years of total service. CSM Musgrove’s awards include: Bronze Star Medal four awarded, three with Valor Device, Good Conduct Award, Republic of Viet Nam Cross of Gallantry with Palm and Silver Star, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Master Parachutist, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Presidential Unit Citation, Valorous Unit Award, Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Air Assault Badge, Meritorious Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Jungle Expert Badge, Master Vietnam Parachutist Badge, Special Forces Qualified, and Master German Parachutist Badge. After retirement CSM Musgrove worked for the Civil Service for fifteen years, retiring in 1995. He graduated from Austin Peay University with a bachelor's degree in business administration. CSM Musgrove served as the Honorary Sergeant Major of the 187th Infantry Regiment from 2011 until 2018. CSM James E. Musgrove has one son, Jack Musgrove (Karrie) two granddaughters, Amanda Reyes (Armand) and Natalie Begley (Drew)and three great-grandchildren. He has one stepdaughter, Helen Williams (David) and a beloved niece Rhonda Culberth and her son Joseph, of Tennessee. He is survived by his sister, Jannice Arrant of Lynn Haven Florida, his niece Recy Dianne Raffield (Jack) of Panama City Beach, Florida, his nephew Christopher Arrant (Melissa) of Lynn Haven, Florida and his brother, Edwin J. Musgrove of England. He has joined his true love and soulmate, Virginia Clair Southgate-Musgrove in their Heavenly Home. Inurnment will be at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West in Hopkinsville at a date to be determined. Skip and Trey Young along with Paula and Kimberly are assisting the family with arrangements.

James Earl Musgrove

July 6, 1933 - August 27, 2023