David E. Grange Jr.

David E. Grange Jr. (born April 9, 1925)[1] is a retired lieutenant general in the United States Army.

David E. Grange Jr.
David E. Grange
Born (1925-04-09) April 9, 1925
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1943–1984
RankLieutenant General
Commands heldSixth Army
United States Army Infantry School
2nd Infantry Division
3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division
2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment
Battles/warsWorld War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star (3)
Legion of Merit (2)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Soldier's Medal
Bronze Star Medal (4)
Purple Heart
Air Medal (27)
RelationsDavid L. Grange (son)

Early life

Grange was born on April 9, 1925, and grew up in Lake Ronkonkoma, New York. He joined the United States Army in June 1943 and served as an enlisted parachute infantryman in Europe, taking part in the Rome-Arno, Southern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe Campaigns as a member of the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment. In 1949, he departed the 82d Airborne Division to attend Officer Candidate School. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in 1950, with an initial assignment with the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment in Korea.

Assignments

General Grange served in a variety of assignments, including: two tours in Korea as a Rifle Platoon Leader (1950–51) and Rifle Company Commander (1952–53); Ranger Instructor; Staff Officer, Department of the Army Staff, Pentagon; 10th Special Forces Group, Germany (1957–60); Advisor in the Republic of Vietnam (1st tour) (1963–64); AcofS, G1, 82d Airborne Division; Commander 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry (Vietnam) (2d tour) (1967–68); Commander, DISCOM, 101st Airborne Division (Vietnam) (3d tour) (1970–71); Commander, 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Vietnam) (3d tour) (1970–71); Director, Ranger Department, U.S. Army Infantry School; Assistant Division Commander (Support), 4th Infantry Division; Assistant Division Commander (Maneuver), 4th Infantry Division; Chief of Staff, I Corps (ROK/US Group), Korea.

Toward the end of his career, General Grange served in a variety of high level command assignments including Commanding General, U.S. Army Readiness and Mobilization Region VIII (1976–78); Commanding General, 2d Infantry Division, Korea (1978–79); Commanding General, United States Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia (1979–81); and, finally, Commanding General, Sixth Army (1981–84). Grange retired in June 1984, after 41 years of service.[2]

Grange is among the few paratroopers in U.S. Army history to make three combat jumps—one during World War II (Southern France) and two in Korea (the Battle of Yongju and Operation Tomahawk). His other distinctions include three awards each of the Combat Infantryman Badge (for World War II, Korea and Vietnam) and the Silver Star for heroism in combat.

Education

Grange is a graduate of the Strategic Intelligence Course, the Russian language course at the Defense Language Institute, the Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Nebraska and has attended the Advanced Management Course for Executives at the University of Pittsburgh.

Legacy

In 1982, the annual "David E. Grange Jr. Best Ranger Competition" was founded.[3] His son, David L. Grange also went on to serve as a US Army general officer.

Awards and decorations

Lieutenant General Grange's numerous decorations, medals and badges include:

General Grange's awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, three Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Soldier's Medal, the Purple Heart and 38 other combat awards for valor and meritorious service. He has also received the French Legion of Honor, Degree of Officer, the Korean Wharang Medal with Gold Star, the Kuksun Medal, the Cheonsu Medal and two Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with palm medals. He holds the Combat Infantryman Badge (Third Award), Master Parachutist Badge with 3 combat jump stars, and the Ranger Tab. General Grange is an inaugural member of the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame and the U.S. Army Officer Candidate Hall of Fame. He was selected as 1984 Airborne Trooper of the Year by the Airborne Association, was the 1994 recipient of the Infantry's "Doughboy Award," and was named an honorary Sergeant Major of the Army by the Association of the United States Army in 2016.[4]

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2011-01-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2011-01-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. Biography
  4. Legendary Ranger Is This Year's Honorary Sergeant Major Of The Army
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