David Ellsworth Grange Jr.
David E. Grange
Born(1925-04-09)April 9, 1925
Richmond Hill, New York, New York City, U.S.
DiedSeptember 11, 2022(2022-09-11) (aged 97)
Buried
Fort Mitchell National Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1943–1984
RankLieutenant General
Commands heldSixth United States 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
RelationsDavid L. Grange (son)

David Ellsworth Grange Jr. (April 9, 1925 – September 11, 2022) was a lieutenant general in the United States Army.

Early life

Grange was born on April 9, 1925, in Richmond Hill, New York, New York City,[1] 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.

Education

Grange was 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 held a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Omaha and has attended the Advanced Management Course for Executives at the University of Pittsburgh.

Assignments

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, 82nd Airborne Division; Commander 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry (Vietnam) (2nd tour) (1967–68); Commander, DISCOM, 101st Airborne Division (Vietnam) (3rd tour) (1970–71); Commander, 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Vietnam) (3rd tour) (1970–71); director, Ranger Department, United States 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, Grange served in a variety of high level command assignments including Commanding General, United States Army Readiness and Mobilization Region VIII (1976–78); Commanding General, 2nd Infantry Division, Korea (1978–79); Commanding General, United States Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia (1979–81); and, finally, Commanding General, Sixth United States Army (1981–84). Grange retired in June 1984, after 41 years of service.[2]

Grange is among the few paratroopers in United States 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.

Personal life and 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 United States Army general officer.

Grange died on September 11, 2022, at the age of 97.[4]

Awards and decorations

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

Bronze oak leaf cluster
V
Bronze star
Gold star
Badge Combat Infantryman Badge
with 2 stars (3rd award)
Badge Master Parachutist Badge
with 3 combat jump stars
1st Row Defense Distinguished Service Medal Army Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star
with 2 bronze Oak leaf clusters		 Legion of Merit
with 1 bronze Oak leaf cluster
2nd Row Distinguished Flying Cross Soldier's Medal Bronze Star
with "V" device and 3 bronze Oak leaf clusters		 Purple Heart
3rd Row Air Medal
with "V" device and Award numeral 27		 Joint Service Commendation Medal
with "V" device		 Army Commendation Medal
with "V" device and 3 bronze Oak leaf clusters		 Air Force Commendation Medal
4th Row American Campaign Medal European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
with Arrowhead device and 1 silver Campaign star		 World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal
5th Row Army Good Conduct Medal National Defense Service Medal
with 1 Service star		 Korean Service Medal
with Arrowhead device and 2 Campaign stars		 Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
6th Row Vietnam Service Medal
with 3 Campaign stars		 Army Service Ribbon Army Overseas Service Ribbon Legion of Honour
(Officier)
7th Row South Korean Order of Military Merit
with gold star (4th Class)		 Order of National Security Merit
2nd Class		 Order of National Security Merit
3rd Class		 Vietnam Gallantry Cross
with palm
8th Row Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal
1st Class		 United Nations Korea Medal Vietnam Campaign Medal
with "60-" clasp		 Korean War Service Medal
Tab Ranger Tab
Unit awards Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
with palm and frame		 Vietnam Civil Action Unit Citation
with palm and frame (1st Class)

General Grange was an inaugural member of the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame[5] 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.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Honorary Colonel of the Regiment, October 1987". Archived from the original on 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2011-01-07.
  2. ↑ "Honorary Colonel of the Regiment, October 1987". Archived from the original on 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2011-01-07.
  3. ↑ Biography
  4. ↑ "Launched Modern Ranger Training, Lt. Gen. David E. Grange Jr". Coffee or Die Magazine. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  5. ↑ "US Army Ranger Association - Ranger Hall of Fame". ranger.org. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
  6. ↑ Legendary Ranger Is This Year's Honorary Sergeant Major Of The Army
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