David E. Grange Jr.

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.

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 ('76-'78); Commanding General, 2d Infantry Division, Korea (’78-’79); Commanding General, United States Army Infantry Center, Fort Benning, Georgia ('79-'81); and, finally, Commanding General, Sixth U.S. Army ('81-'84). General Grange retired in June 1984, after 41 years of Army service.

General Grange was 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 and the Silver Star.

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."