Scope and Contents

The collection consists of approximately half of a linear foot of materials accumulated by Captain Donald E. Grigg. From 1965 to 1975, Grigg served with the U.S. Army and was Airborne/Ranger qualified. He served two tours in Vietnam with the 1st Battalion (Airborne) of the 12th Cavalry as a Recon Platoon Leader.

The materials include a VHS tape; books; a newsletter; periodicals; documents regarding POW/MIA in Vietnam and Agent Orange; yearbooks; a reference book; a map; and a Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program education kit for teaching about the Vietnam War and its veterans. The materials are dated 1968-1975, 1979-1986, 1990-1994, and 2000-2003.

Biographical / Historical

Captain Donald E. Grigg was born in El Dorado, Arkansas in February 1939. He attended Henderson State Teachers College in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, where he graduated with a B.S. in Education and Commissioned as a Lieutenant in ROTC in 1965. He served with the U.S. Marine Corps from 1959 to 1963. During this time, he served in the Mediterranean, the Far East, and the Caribbean (including involvement in the Cuban Blockade). He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the Marksman Badge before being honorably discharged at the rank of Corporal.

From 1965 to 1975, Grigg served with the U.S. Army and was Airborne/Ranger qualified. He served two tours in Vietnam with the 1st Battalion (Airborne) of the 12th Cavalry as a Recon Platoon Leader. The unit was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation during Grigg's first tour. During his Vietnam service, Grigg received numerous awards including the Silver Star for Valor, two Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, the Air Medal, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.

In 1975, Grigg medically retired from the military at the rank of Captain after previously being wounded in action. His post-military career included the completion of a M.A. in Business from Central Michigan University (1975), work as a congressional aide for Military and Veterans Affairs in Arkansas' 4th District (1997-2010), and veterans advocacy work as Executive Director of the Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program of Arkansas (1982-1997). His advocacy work included participation in the Arkansas Vietnam Veterans Memorial Executive Committee, the Governors Commission on Veterans' Affairs, and the Governors Task Force on POWs/MIAs (including being a member of a fact-finding delegation to Hanoi in 1994). Captain Donald E. Grigg passed away in May 2010.