World War I and The Inter-War Years
He was sent to France as an observer with British forces in 1917 World War I. During the American build up, he served as assistant chief of staff for I Corps and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his work during the American offensives of 1918.
In 1919, he attended the Army War College then at Washington Barracks, now Fort Leslie McNair, in Washington, D.C. He served with the 1st Infantry Division (United States) at Camp Dix, then to Washington, D.C. to serve in the office of the Army Chief of Staff. He returned to the field as a lieutenant colonel of the 10th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Huachuca, Arizona in 1925.
After a second tour of duty in the office of the Army Chief of Staff, Grunert attended the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas from 1930 to 1932. In 1933, he was the director of military intelligence and espionage division course at the Army War College and in 1935, he became director of war plans division course.
In 1936, he was posted to the Philippines as commanding officer of the 26th Cavalry Regiment (United States) and at that time, through Army oversight, the only remaining cavalry unit not yet compelled to modernize. He received his promotion to brigadier general in December 1936 in preparation for his command of the 23rd Brigade, also stationed in the Philippines.
Grunert succeeded George C. Marshall who was leaving command of 5th Brigade at Vancouver Barracks, Washington to become U.S. Army Chief of Staff in August 1939. While there Grunert was promoted to major general in 1939.
From May 1940 to November 1941 Grunert commanded the Philippine Department, directing the U.S. Army supervision and control over the Philippine defense force that Douglas MacArthur came out of retirement to command.
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