Lieutenant Colonel Michael C. Grimm was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Infantry Officer Candidate School Class 27-67 on 27 March 1967. Following graduation, he was sent to Vietnam with Company B, 4th Battalion, 47th Infantry, 2d Brigade, 9th Infantry Division. Grimm was award the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism while serving as a Second Lieutenant in Vietnam.

Returning from Vietnam he attended Rotary Wing Flight School and returned to Vietnam with C Troop, 2/17 Cavalry.

Following Vietnam, he served as Executive Officer and Commander of an Aviation Company in Hawaii, followed by Company Command of B Company 229th Attack Helicopter Battalion, 101st Aviation Group, 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.  LTC Grimm then became a founding member of 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) and commander of the “Little Birds.” LTC Grimm, a charter member of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), was killed 7 October 2004 while leading a flight of 22 helicopters in a low-level night training exercise.

His highest military awards include: Distinguished Service Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star w/V Device, Air Medal (w/X OLCs), Army Commendation Medal (w/ OLC), Purple Heart (w/2 OLCs), Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Army Aviator Badge, Parachute Badge, Army Aviation Hall of Fame.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS CITATION: For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company B, 4th Battalion, 47th Infantry, 2d Brigade, 9th Infantry Division. Second Lieutenant Grimm distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 8 March 1968 as a platoon leader of an infantry company during an air assault near My Tho. Enemy fire on the landing zone was so intense that one helicopter was shot down and five were unable to land, leaving Lieutenant Grimm's platoon and the company's command group alone in the clearing. During the initial contact, Lieutenant Grimm and ten men were wounded, and several other troops were killed, including the platoon sergeant and the platoon medic. Under a withering hail of enemy fire, Lieutenant Grimm moved to his right flank and eliminated several enemy positions, enabling his men to maneuver out of the open rice paddy into more protected positions. Although painfully wounded, he exposed himself to rocket and mortar fire to extract two other casualties from the clearing. When the insurgents attempted to flank his unit, Lieutenant Grimm directed artillery to within fifty meters of his own position which enabled his men to maneuver to another rice paddy dike. Under the cover of darkness, he led a group of volunteers outside the perimeter to secure all the wounded and move them to safety. When the Viet Cong attempted to capture the downed helicopter's armament, he led a small group to the wreckage and successfully stripped it of all weapons, electronic equipment and medical supplies shortly before the enemy seized the craft. Second Lieutenant Grimm's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.