David E. Grange Jr.

David E. Grange
David E. Grange
Born	(1925-04-09) April 9, 1925
Allegiance	United States of America
Service / branch	United States Army
Years of service	1943-1984
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands	2d Infantry Division Infantry Center Sixth Army
Battles / wars	World War II Korean War Vietnam War
Awards	Silver Stars (3) Legion of Merit (2) Distinguished Flying Cross Soldier's Medal Purple Heart Combat Infantryman Badge (3)
Relations	David L. Grange (son), Suzanne Grange Smith (daughter) Henrietta (Holly) Grange-Sands (daughter) Lois Grange (wife)

David E. Grange Jr., (born April 9, 1925) grew up in Lake Ronkonkoma, New York. He joined the 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 (’50-’51) and Rifle Company Commander (’52-’53); Ranger Instructor; Staff Officer, Department of the Army Staff, Pentagon; 10th Special Forces Group, Germany ('57-'60); Advisor in the Republic of Vietnam (1st tour) (’63-’64); AcofS, G1, 82d Airborne Division; Commander 2d Battalion, 506th Infantry (Vietnam) (2d tour) (’67-’68); Commander, DISCOM, 101st Airborne Division (Vietnam) (3d tour) (’70-’71); Commander, 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Vietnam) (3d tour) (’70-’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; Commanding General, U.S. Army Readiness and Mobilization Region VIII ('76-'78); Commanding General, 2d Infantry Division, Korea (’78-’79); Commanding General, Infantry Center, Fort Benning, Georgia ('79-'81); Commanding General, Sixth U.S. Army ('81-'84). General Grange retired in June 1984, after 41 years of Army service.

Education

He 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 BA 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. 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, and was the 1994 recipient of the Infantry’s "Doughboy Award."

See also

List of Three-Time Recipients of the CIB

References

• Biography