David E. Grange Jr.

{{Infobox military person

| name = David Ellsworth Grange Jr.

| image = David_E_Grange.png

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = David E. Grange

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1925|4|9}}

| birth_place = Richmond Hill, New York, New York City, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|9|11|1925|4|9}}

| death_place =

| placeofburial = Fort Mitchell National Cemetery

| allegiance = United States

| branch = United States Army

| serviceyears = 1943–1984

| rank = Lieutenant General

| servicenumber =

| unit =

| commands = Sixth United States Army
United States Army Infantry School
2nd Infantry Division
3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division
2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment

| battles = World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War

| awards = Defense 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

| relations = David L. Grange (son)

| laterwork =

}}

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,{{Cite web |url=http://www.506infantry.org/his2id/hiskoreaarticle11.html |title=Honorary Colonel of the Regiment, October 1987 |access-date=2011-01-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615121728/http://www.506infantry.org/his2id/hiskoreaarticle11.html |archive-date=2011-06-15 |url-status=dead }} 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 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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.506infantry.org/his2id/hiskoreaarticle11.html |title=Honorary Colonel of the Regiment, October 1987 |access-date=2011-01-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615121728/http://www.506infantry.org/his2id/hiskoreaarticle11.html |archive-date=2011-06-15 |url-status=dead }}

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.[http://www.bestrangercompetition.com/?page_id=62 Biography] 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.{{cite news |title=Launched Modern Ranger Training, Lt. Gen. David E. Grange Jr. |url=https://www.coffeeordie.com/david-e-grange-ranger |access-date=14 September 2022 |publisher=Coffee or Die Magazine |date=13 September 2022}}

Awards and decorations

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

style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"

colspan="4"|235px

colspan="4"|110px

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|106px}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished_Service_Medal_ribbon.svg|106px}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Silver_Star_ribbon.svg|width=106}}22px22px

|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|106px}}

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished_Flying_Cross_ribbon.svg|106px}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Soldier's_Medal_ribbon.svg|106px}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=106px}}22px22px22px22px

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|106px}}

{{ribbon devices|number=0|other_device= |type=oak|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}}21px22px22px

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|other_device=v|ribbon=Joint_Service_Commendation_ribbon.svg|106px}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106px}}22px22px22px22px

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Air_Force_Commendation_ribbon.svg|width=106px}}

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106px}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=European-African-Middle_Eastern_Campaign_ribbon.svg|width=106px}}22px18px

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=World_War_II_Victory_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106px}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army_of_Occupation_ribbon.svg|width=106px}}

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army_Good_Conduct_ribbon.svg|width=106px}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Korean_Service_Medal_-_Ribbon.svg|width=106}}22px18px18px

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Armed Forces Expedtionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}18px18px18px

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Army_Service_Ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Army_Overseas_Service_Ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|106px

{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=Hwarang Cordon Medal.png|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Gugseon Security Medal Ribbon.png|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Cheon-Su Security Medal Ribbon.png|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Vietnamese Gallantry Cross, with palm.svg|width=106}}

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal ribbon-First Class.svg|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=United Nations Service Medal Korea ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Republic of Korea War Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

colspan="4"|125px

colspan="4"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Korean Presidential Unit Citation.png|width=106}}{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.png|width=106}}{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Civil Action Unit Citation.png|width=106}}

class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
Badge \|colspan="12"\|Combat Infantryman Badge {{small\|with 2 stars (3rd award)}}
Badge \|colspan="12"\|Master Parachutist Badge {{small\|with 3 combat jump stars}}
1st Row \|colspan="3"\|Defense Distinguished Service Medal \|colspan="3"\|Army Distinguished Service Medal \|colspan="3"\|Silver Star {{small\|with 2 bronze Oak leaf clusters}} \|colspan="3"\|Legion of Merit {{small\|with 1 bronze Oak leaf cluster}}
2nd Row \|colspan="3"\|Distinguished Flying Cross \|colspan="3"\|Soldier's Medal \|colspan="3"\|Bronze Star {{small\|with "V" device and 3 bronze Oak leaf clusters}} \|colspan="3"\|Purple Heart
3rd Row \|colspan="3"\|Air Medal {{small\|with "V" device and Award numeral 27}} \|colspan="3"\|Joint Service Commendation Medal {{small\|with "V" device}} \|colspan="3"\|Army Commendation Medal {{small\|with "V" device and 3 bronze Oak leaf clusters}} \|colspan="3"\|Air Force Commendation Medal
4th Row \|colspan="3"\|American Campaign Medal \|colspan="3"\|European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal {{small\|with Arrowhead device and 1 silver Campaign star}} \|colspan="3"\|World War II Victory Medal \|colspan="3"\|Army of Occupation Medal
5th Row \|colspan="3"\|Army Good Conduct Medal \|colspan="3"\|National Defense Service Medal {{small\|with 1 Service star}} \|colspan="3"\|Korean Service Medal {{small\|with Arrowhead device and 2 Campaign stars}} \|colspan="3"\|Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
6th Row \|colspan="3"\|Vietnam Service Medal {{small\|with 3 Campaign stars}} \|colspan="3"\|Army Service Ribbon \|colspan="3"\|Army Overseas Service Ribbon \|colspan="3"\|Legion of Honour {{small\|(Officier)}}
7th Row \|colspan="3"\|South Korean Order of Military Merit {{small\|with gold star (4th Class)}} \|colspan="3"\|Order of National Security Merit {{small\|2nd Class}} \|colspan="3"\|Order of National Security Merit {{small\|3rd Class}} \|colspan="3"\|Vietnam Gallantry Cross {{small\|with palm}}
8th Row \|colspan="3"\|Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal {{small\|1st Class}} \|colspan="3"\|United Nations Korea Medal \|colspan="3"\|Vietnam Campaign Medal {{small\|with "60-" clasp}} \|colspan="3"\|Korean War Service Medal
Tab \|colspan="12"\|Ranger Tab
Unit awards \|colspan="4"\|Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation \|colspan="4"\|Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation {{small\|with palm and frame}} \|colspan="4"\|Vietnam Civil Action Unit Citation {{small\| with palm and frame (1st Class)}}

class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"

Badge

|colspan="12"|Combat Infantryman Badge
{{small|with 2 stars (3rd award)}}

Badge

|colspan="12"|Master Parachutist Badge
{{small|with 3 combat jump stars}}

1st Row

|colspan="3"|Defense Distinguished Service Medal

|colspan="3"|Army Distinguished Service Medal

|colspan="3"|Silver Star
{{small|with 2 bronze Oak leaf clusters}}

|colspan="3"|Legion of Merit
{{small|with 1 bronze Oak leaf cluster}}

2nd Row

|colspan="3"|Distinguished Flying Cross

|colspan="3"|Soldier's Medal

|colspan="3"|Bronze Star
{{small|with "V" device and 3 bronze Oak leaf clusters}}

|colspan="3"|Purple Heart

3rd Row

|colspan="3"|Air Medal
{{small|with "V" device and Award numeral 27}}

|colspan="3"|Joint Service Commendation Medal
{{small|with "V" device}}

|colspan="3"|Army Commendation Medal
{{small|with "V" device and 3 bronze Oak leaf clusters}}

|colspan="3"|Air Force Commendation Medal

4th Row

|colspan="3"|American Campaign Medal

|colspan="3"|European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
{{small|with Arrowhead device and 1 silver Campaign star}}

|colspan="3"|World War II Victory Medal

|colspan="3"|Army of Occupation Medal

5th Row

|colspan="3"|Army Good Conduct Medal

|colspan="3"|National Defense Service Medal
{{small|with 1 Service star}}

|colspan="3"|Korean Service Medal
{{small|with Arrowhead device and 2 Campaign stars}}

|colspan="3"|Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

6th Row

|colspan="3"|Vietnam Service Medal
{{small|with 3 Campaign stars}}

|colspan="3"|Army Service Ribbon

|colspan="3"|Army Overseas Service Ribbon

|colspan="3"|Legion of Honour
{{small|(Officier)}}

7th Row

|colspan="3"|South Korean Order of Military Merit
{{small|with gold star (4th Class)}}

|colspan="3"|Order of National Security Merit
{{small|2nd Class}}

|colspan="3"|Order of National Security Merit
{{small|3rd Class}}

|colspan="3"|Vietnam Gallantry Cross
{{small|with palm}}

8th Row

|colspan="3"|Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal
{{small|1st Class}}

|colspan="3"|United Nations Korea Medal

|colspan="3"|Vietnam Campaign Medal
{{small|with "60-" clasp}}

|colspan="3"|Korean War Service Medal

Tab

|colspan="12"|Ranger Tab

Unit awards

|colspan="4"|Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation

|colspan="4"|Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
{{small|with palm and frame}}

|colspan="4"|Vietnam Civil Action Unit Citation
{{small| with palm and frame (1st Class)}}

General Grange was an inaugural member of the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame{{Cite web|title=US Army Ranger Association - Ranger Hall of Fame|url=https://ranger.org/Ranger-Hall-of-Fame|access-date=2021-01-07|website=ranger.org|language=en}} 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.[https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2016/09/26/legendary-ranger-is-this-year-s-honorary-sergeant-major-of-the-army/ Legendary Ranger Is This Year's Honorary Sergeant Major Of The Army]