Staff Sergeant Tanner W. Grone was born on 18 August 1998. He is a native of Gorham, New Hampshire, and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2017 as a UH-60 Black Hawk Repairer (15T). He was assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) after completing Advanced Individual Training. Once assigned, SSG Grone completed the Regiment’s extensive training and assessment program in 2018. He reported to Foxtrot Company, 1st Battalion, at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where served as an MH-60M Repairer. He reported to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, six months later to serve as an MH-60M Direct Action Penetrator (DAP) Fully Mission Qualified Crew Chief.

SSG Grone deployed multiple times to Iraq in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE, deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation FREEDOM SENTINEL, and supported several no-notice deployments world-wide in support of national security objectives.

SSG Grone’s military education includes the Enlisted Combat Skills Course (Green Platoon); Combatives Level 1; MH-60 Maintainers Course; Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) Course; MH-60 Nonrated Crew Member Course; MH-60 Standardization and Flight Instructor Course; Basic Leaders Course; and Advanced Leaders Course.

SSG Grone’s awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross (w/C Device), Air Medal (w/C Device and Numeral 2), Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (w/C Device and 1 OLC), Good Conduct Medal (2nd Award), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (w/1 Bronze Service Star), Iraq Campaign Medal (w/2 Bronze Service Stars), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal , Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon (w/Numeral 2), Army Service Ribbon, Combat Action Badge, and the Basic Aviation Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and was inducted into the Honorable Order of Saint Michael for significant contributions to the Army Aviation Community.

SSG Grone died when MH-60M Black Hawk, (DAP) tail #490, crashed into the Mediterranean Sea during a training mission on 10 November 2023.

He is survived by his parents, Stephen and Erica, and his sister, Emily.