?»?James Richard ("Dick") Grier was born in Albion, Michigan on February 26, 1923. The oldest of four boys, he is remembered for his strong work ethic, friendly demeanor, and commitment to community service.

During his youth in Michigan and New York, Dick was an energetic, involved young man. He was rarely without employment and served as an active member of his school, church, and community. He served as a leader in a wide array of groups, and was elected first president of the 1,400-member student body at Kenmore High School.

After Dick graduated from high school, he worked at the H.N. Kraus men's store in Kenmore. His sense of civic responsibility soon called him to the war effort, however, and he joined the Army Air Corps in 1943 at the age of 20. He completed his basic and advanced military air training in Kansas and Texas. He was named 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps, 9th Air Force, 67th Reconnaissance Group, 107th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. After completing his advanced training, he transferred to Florida, where he would be assigned his own plane and prepared for overseas service.

While in Florida, Dick was assigned a P-51D Mustang, with which he trained. He and his plane left for England together. While traveling, Dick was responsible for scraping the camouflage paint from the craft and preparing it for service. Since Dick was assigned to reconnaissance duty, his plane would be both unarmored and unarmed.

Dick was sent to the Midlands in England, where he flew four successful missions. On April 6, 1944, as Dick was returning from his fifth mission, his plane crashed in the vicinity of Lydd, Kent, England. Dick was buried in Brookwood Cemetery in England until the conclusion of the war, when he was re-interred in Cambridge. Dick was posthumously awarded the Army Air Medal and the Purple Heart.

Dick's legacy also included a transcontinental friendship between two families. The Griers have maintained a lasting contact with the family of a British soldier, Johnny Williams, after an exchange program united the families of both servicemen during World War II.

Dick's personal dedication to community service led him to the field of aviation, where his contributions are not soon forgotten. His friendly demeanor, hard work and sense of civic responsibility are quintessentially American gifts that live on to this day.