Born and raised in Miami, FL, Vincent Gregory “Vince” Grande Jr. joined the Army as soon as he could after graduating from St. Patrick’s High School. After two years he was accepted to the USMA Prep School and joined the Class of 1960 a year later in June 1956. Three years older than most of us, he was the model soldier we looked up to. He set the standard for perfection, discipline, dedication and stalwartness.
Vince excelled academically (61st in the class) and took advantage of everything that West Point had to offer. He was a member of both the Catholic and Chapel choirs. He was a member of the Debate Council and Forum, as well as the Handball and Sailing clubs. He also found time to be a manager for the USMA Gymnastics Team. But it was his outstanding performance in all things military that earned him the command of Company A-2 during our First Class year. As one of us put it, “He was the ‘go-to’ guy for all things military. He was as friendly as could be and always helpful.”
On a blind date at Camp Buckner, Vince met Gloria Strouse, who was to become the love of his life. After graduation they married and embarked on an Army Signal Corps career together. The first stop was the Signal Corps Officer Basic Course at Fort Monmouth, NJ, followed by Airborne School. He then joined the 596th Signal Company at Fort Benning, GA. In less than a year this stateside assignment was rudely interrupted by the Soviet Union’s erection of the Berlin Wall in August 1961. Vince and the 596th rotated to Kaiserslautern, Germany and became part of the 97th Signal Battalion in the Seventh Army. Gloria and the rest of the unit’s families joined some 11 months later. Vince earned a Commendation Medal while serving as a company commander from 1962 to 1963. Returning to the United States in 1964, he attended the Signal Corps Officer Advanced Course and then enrolled at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for a master’s degree in mathematics. The next three years he taught math at USMA. We all had no trouble imagining Vince booming out the words, “Take boards…Cease work.”
By 1969 Vince and Gloria’s family included children Greg, Greta and Gina. In 1970-71 the family stayed at Stewart Airfield while Vince served with B Company, 501st Signal Battalion of the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam. He was awarded a Bronze Star and another Commendation Medal for his meritorious service in a combat zone.
Upon his return the family moved to the Washington, DC area, where Vince attended the Armed Forces Staff College and then served in multiple staff assignments at the Department of the Army level. These included the Computer Systems Command and the Management Systems Support Agency. He was in on the Signal Corps’ transition from a world of teletype and landline phones to one of computer systems management. He retired from active duty in 1981 after earning two Meritorious Service Medals and a Legion of Merit in his last assignment. Vince and his family stayed in Alexandria, VA as he embarked on a civilian career in systems management with the BDM Corporation and the American Academy of Physician Assistants.
After 18 years in Alexandria, Vince and Gloria went back to his Florida roots, moving to St. Cloud in 1990. There he worked for the city of Orlando as a program analyst. He fully retired in 1997 and returned to teaching, this time sharing his expertise, wisdom and values in the Junior Achievement program at various schools in the area. Vince and Gloria were active members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Kissimmee, FL, where his love of music and, in particular, his singing voice came into full bloom. His pastor noted, “We all loved Gloria and Vince here at Trinity Lutheran Church in Kissimmee. We have many fond memories of both of them; they were such a big part of our family.”
Vince and Gloria also enjoyed taking cruises together. Vince liked to read, Louis L'Amour being his favorite author. Vince also became the consummate volunteer, with churches, hospitals and schools in their city benefiting from his passion for helping others. In Gloria’s words, “He was a loving, caring, solid, helpful and knowledgeable man.”
Vince died in July 2007 in St. Cloud, followed by Gloria’s passing 10 years later in Fredericksburg, VA. We, his companymates, were blessed with their presence at our A-2 mini-reunions in Vail, CO (1993) and Monterey CA (1997). Vince started out as a private (E-1) in the Army and achieved greatly during both his military and civilian careers. This did not come as a surprise to those of us who first saw his dedication and drive in June 1956. To the end he loved his family, his God, his comrades in arms, and West Point. He was a great father, husband, and soldier for his country—a proud member of the Long Gray Line.
Well Done, Vince; Be Thou at Peace.
— Company A-2 1960 classmates and Gloria Grande