# David E. Grange Jr.

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, 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.
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. 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.

## Awards and decorations

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