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 Campaign s 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 . He has 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 Star s , 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 Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with 2 palms . 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