World War II
He returned to the United States weeks before Pearl Harbor and in rapid succession commanded Sixth Service Command at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, serving as the ranking military officer in the Chicago area. Next was Washington, D.C. in two administrative posts with Army Service Forces as Deputy Chief of Staff for Service Commands (Service of Supply) overseeing the nine United States-based supply and logistics commands, under General Brehon B. Somervell
In August 1943, he was appointed deputy commander for both the Eastern Defense Command, a continental defense command for the eastern United States, and First United States Army at Fort Jay, Governors Island in New York City, taking the place of General Hugh A. Drum upon his mandatory retirement at age 64 in October 1943.
Grunert held interim command over First Army until January 1944 while Omar N. Bradley completed assembling and staffing its new headquarters in England for the Normandy Invasion. Grunert continued command of Eastern Defense Command, which also assumed the duties of Central Defense Command, and Second Service Command for the New York area until his retirement in July 1945.
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