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Charles P. Murray Jr.
Charles Patrick Murray Jr. (September 26, 1921 – August 12, 2011) was a United States Army officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II. Early lifeBorn on September 26, 1921, in Baltimore, Maryland, Murray moved to Wilmington, North Carolina, at age one. After graduating from Wilmington's New Hanover High School in 1938, he attended the University of North Carolina. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942, after his third year of college.[1] World War IIArriving in northeastern France in October 1944, Murray was assigned as a replacement platoon leader to Company C of the 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division.[1] The division had landed in Saint-Tropez on the southern coast of France months earlier and was pushing northward towards Germany.[2] On December 8 of that year, Murray became company commander.[1] Early on December 16, Company C crossed the Weiss River in the northern Vosges Mountains and established a defensive position atop Hill 512, just south of the village of Kaysersberg. Later that morning, Murray, by then a first lieutenant, led a platoon-sized group on a reconnaissance mission to the southeast, towards Ammerschwihr. Descending the vineyard-covered hill along a winding footpath, the group noticed German soldiers in a sunken road, about 150 yards (140 m) away, firing on an American hilltop position.[1] Creeping forward to a point from which he could see the German unit, about 200 men strong, Murray made a radio call for artillery support. When the artillery landed slightly off target, he attempted to call for a range correction but the radio went dead. Not wanting to send his patrol against the much larger German force, he retrieved rifle grenades from his men and returned to his vantage point to begin a single-handed attack on the position. Although his fire alerted the Germans to his location, he continued to shoot grenades and later an automatic rifle into the German unit. As the soldiers attempted to withdraw, he disabled a truck which was carrying out three mortars. Members of his patrol brought up their own mortar, and Murray directed its fire until the Germans had scattered towards Ammerschwihr.[1][3] Continuing on the footpath, he and his men captured ten German soldiers. An eleventh soldier approached him with his helmet off and his arms raised. When Murray turned to shout orders, the soldier tossed a grenade; the explosion knocked Murray to the ground and sent eight pieces of shrapnel into his left leg. After getting back to his feet, he stopped his men from killing the prisoner. Only after organizing the patrol into a defensive position did he turn over command of the company and find an aid station.[1]  After receiving medical treatment, Murray rejoined his unit on December 28, 1944. He learned that he had been recommended for the Medal of Honor in March of the next year and, per Army policy, was soon removed from combat.[1] He remained with his division and was in Salzburg, Austria, on May 7, 1945, when a ceasefire was declared. The next day, Germany's surrender was finalized and the war in Europe was over.[2] Murray was issued the Medal of Honor on August 1, 1945, eight months after the fight near Kaysersberg.[3] It was formally presented to him during a ceremony in Salzburg, with the entire 3rd Infantry Division in attendance.[2] He arrived home in Wilmington in September to a hero's welcome, but later returned to Europe and served four years of occupation duty.[1][2] During this time, he was stationed in Salzburg and became the head U.S. intelligence officer in that city.[2] In addition to the Medal of Honor, Murray received three Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars with Valor devices, a Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantryman Badge for his World War II service.[1] Later life Murray remained in the Army after World War II, serving with the 82nd Airborne Division and participating in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He eventually rose to the rank of colonel and commanded the 3rd US Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), a ceremonial unit tasked with guarding the Tomb of the Unknowns, among other duties. In 1970, he transferred to Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina, from where he retired in 1973.[1][2] As a civilian, Murray worked for the South Carolina Department of Corrections until his final retirement. He and his wife, Anne, lived in Columbia, South Carolina until his death from congestive heart failure on August 12, 2011.[4][5] Murray Middle School in Wilmington is named in his honor.[1] Medal of Honor citation Murray's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
Burial at Arlington National Cemetery on 9 Sep 2011Following his death in 2011, Murray was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. His grave is in Section 60. See also Wikimedia Commons has media related to Charles P. Murray, Jr.. References
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