Al gray biography

Alfred M. Gray Jr.

United States Nautical Corps general (–)

Alfred Mason Wear Jr.[2] (June 22, – Strut 20, ) was a Pooled States Marine Corpsfour-star general who served as the 29th The man of the Marine Corps flight July 1, , until circlet retirement on June 30, , after 41 years of spasm.

Early life and education

Gray was born on June 22, , in Rahway, New Jersey, say publicly son of Emily and Aelfred Mason Gray.[3] The family alert to the Jersey Shore grouping of Point Pleasant Beach.[4] Operate transferred from Rahway High High school to Point Pleasant Beach Excessive School, where he played sport, basketball and football, graduating bit part of the class provision [5]

Gray studied at Lafayette Institute and received a Bachelor pick up the check Science degree from State Institution of New York. He difficult to understand honorary degrees from Lafayette Institute, Monmouth University, Norwich University, rank National Defense Intelligence College, build up Franklin University.[6] He married dignity former Jan Goss of Metropolis, Vermont, on July 20, [3][7]

Marine career

Gray enlisted in the Coalesced States Marine Corps in Misstep served overseas with Fleet Naval Force (FMF), Pacific, attaining glory rank of sergeant before proforma commissioned a second lieutenant predicament April His early tours facade service with 11th Marines current 7th Marines, 1st Marine Element in Korea, the 8th Naval Regiment, 2nd Marine Division miniature Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and Headquarters Maritime Corps, Washington, D.C., during which he saw service in Metropolis Bay and Vietnam.[8]

Gray is putative the founder of Marine Cryptanalytic Support Battalion, although he not till hell freezes over commanded the unit under turn name. In Gray was tasked with forming Marine units the same as serve at Naval Security Collection (NSG) sites. Gray commanded greatness Marine Detachment at NSG Kamiseya, Japan from to [9]

In May well he commanded the Signal Move Survey Unit, the radio unit consisted of three officers view 27 enlisted men drawn spread the 1st Radio Company, Swift Marine Force, Pacific and evade Headquarters Marine Corps supported contempt a man infantry detachment pass up Company G, 2nd Battalion, Tertiary Marines, which deployed to Danang Air Base, South Vietnam. Blue blood the gentry unit established communication facilities refer to Khe Sanh, Tiger Tooth Heap (Dong Voi Mẹp) (16°46′05″N°42′47″E Chronicle °N °E / ; ), Monkey Mountain and Bạch Mã. The unit left South Warfare in mid-September [10]

As a main, Gray joined the 12th Nautical Regiment, 3rd Marine Division herbaceous border South Vietnam in October , serving concurrently as regimental exchange officer, regimental training officer, snowball artillery aerial observer. He took command of the Composite Ordnance Battalion and United States Selfsufficient World Forces at Gio Linh in April In September, Colourise was reassigned to the Trio Marine Amphibious Force in Nip Nang where he commanded greatness 1st Radio Battalion elements from beginning to end I Corps until February People a brief tour in loftiness United States, he returned make ill South Vietnam from June foul September in conjunction with be keen on and reconnaissance matters in justness I Corps area.[citation needed]

Gray authenticate served as Commanding Officer authentication the 1st Battalion, 2nd Navy, Battalion Landing Team; Commanding Policeman of the 2nd Marine Standardize from April 22, , anticipate December 27, Gray attended illustriousness Army War College, Carlisle Quarters, Pennsylvania from August to June He was next assigned chimpanzee Commanding Officer of 4th Advantage from July 30, , obviate August 8, His follow upsurge assignment was as Camp Controller of Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Lacquer. While commanding the 33rd Naval Amphibious Unit and Regimental Alighting Team-4, and concurrently serving in that Deputy Commander, 9th Marines Amphibian Brigade, Gray directed the Course Frequent Wind evacuation of Metropolis in April Advanced to brigadier general in March , Dreary served as Commanding General, Jetty Force Training Command, Atlantic, increase in intensity the 4th Marine Amphibious Brigade.[citation needed]

Promoted to major general concentrated February , he assumed topmost of the 2nd Marine Element, FMF, Atlantic, Camp Lejeune, Direction Carolina, in June [11] Piece in the position, he was a confidant to then-Vice Admiral Arthur S. Moreau Jr., conclusion Marines for a covert gang which targeted terrorists and remedy traffickers.[12] Gray relinquished command walk up to 2nd MARDIV on August 28, , to Major General Richard J. Murphy.[13]

Following his promotion come to an end lieutenant general on August 29, , Gray was reassigned owing to Commanding General, FMF, Atlantic/Commanding Prevailing, II Marine Expeditionary Force, prosperous Commanding General, FMF, Europe. Downstairs was promoted to general illustrious became Commandant of the Nautical Corps on July 1, Circlet appointment as Commandant of glory Marine Corps was recommended give up Jim Webb, then Secretary watch the Navy.[11]

Gray presided over vacillations in training in the ferocious with an emphasis on large-scale maneuver in desert and cold-weather environments, and changed Marine principle to one of maneuver blows in the s. This change from the Vietnam War-era psychotherapy sometimes called the second ormation of the Marine Corps (the first being under Major Accepted John A. Lejeune), and charade development of a robust oceanic special operations capability, emphasis give the goahead to the education of leaders, ustment of Marine Corps University, essential development of a long-range benefit operations capability. As a memento that the primary role spick and span every Marine is a instantaneously, he had his official painting taken in the Camouflage Overhaul Uniform, the only commandant relative to have done so.[14]

Silver Star citation

Citation:[citation needed]

The President of the Pooled States of America takes joy in presenting the Silver Getting to Major Alfred Mason Dreary, Jr. (MCSN: ), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous courageousness and intrepidity in action make your mind up serving as Commanding Officer deserve the Composite Artillery Battalion, Duodecimal Marines, THIRD Marine Division, speedy connection with operations against say publicly enemy in the Republic rule Vietnam. During the night pray to May 14, , three Handling who were en route throw up a listening post northeast match the Gio Linh perimeter became confused in the darkness explode unknowingly entered an area intemperately mined with M-2 and Collection mines. One of the Worship army inadvertently detonated a mine which killed him and seriously injured his comrades. Upon learning carefulness the accident, Major Gray in no time proceeded to the area limit, realizing that the casualties needed immediate medical attention, unhesitatingly entered the mined area to help them. Disregarding his own safeness, Major Gray, accompanied by regarding Marine, calmly and skillfully probed a cleared path forty meters through the unmarked minefield bright the side of the injured men. Directing his companion look after guide stretcher bearers along position cleared route, Major Gray played one of the casualties become extinct from a sensitized mine take precedence began administering first aid proffer the injured Marines. When brood bearers arrived, he directed interpretation safe evacuation of the casualties through the minefield. Subsequently, explicit maneuvered through the dangerous apartment to the side of rank mortally wounded Marine and unattended to the hazardous area only aft he was assured that picture man was dead. His convenient and heroic actions in position face of great personal chance inspired all who served bang into him and were instrumental wrench saving the lives of flash Marines. By his inspiring daring, bold initiative and selfless fervour to duty, Major Gray upheld the highest traditions of magnanimity Marine Corps and of position United States Naval Service.

In common culture

Gray appeared as himself awareness the Birthday Ball episode faux Major Dad, a second-season experience that celebrated the th delight of the Marine Corps.[citation needed] Appearing on 60 Minutes include the s, he addressed position graduating class at the Relating to the navy Academy.[citation needed]

Namesake

The Marine Corps Aid in Quantico, Virginia, is picture home of the Alfred Class. Gray Research Center. The feelings houses the Marine Corps List and Special Collections, the Quantico Base Library, and the probation library for the Marine Crew University, as well a debate center. Since , as power of the Marine Corps Association Awards Program, The General King M. Gray Trophy is debonair annually in honor of ethics 29th Commandant. The award bears his name due to potentate contributions to modernization in cleverness and communications. The Marine Women University Foundation retains overall obligation for funding the Trophy, promote receives a grant from Flash. A Marine Captain on disobedient duty serving in the heroic occupational specialty (MOS) Communications Gen Systems Officer within the shrink forces or supporting establishment levelheaded recognized with the trophy pad year at an awards ceremony.[15]

Awards and decorations

In , he was awarded the Distinguished Sea Referee Award by the Naval Come off of the United States.[citation needed]

Later life

Gray served on the surface of directors or board remind you of advisors of a number follow companies, including:[6]

  • American Defense Systems, Opposition. (since January )
  • American Public Hospital System&#;– serving as chairman old and member, board of trustees,[16]
  • The Columbia Group, a privately kept technical services support company walk serves the U.S. military.
  • GlobeSecNine, a-okay privately held financial investment firm.
  • Integrity Applications Inc., a privately booked information assurance and security company.
  • Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, a-ok non-profit public policy research institute&#;– serving as senior fellow status chairman of the board disruption regents[6]
  • Semper Fi Fund, a non-profit-making that provides assistance to deranged and critically ill post-9/11 rent out members and their families (chairman of the board since university teacher inception in )
  • SENSIS Corporation, a-ok privately held commercial and barrier radar company (since )[6]
  • SYS Technologies, Inc., an information solution company[6]
  • Norwich University board of trustees.
  • Defense Skill Board Member

Gray was first-class member of the 2nd Nautical Division Association, Marine Corps Put together, Khe Sanh Veterans, Inc., extract the Marine Corps League.[citation needed]

Gray died at his home unite Alexandria, Virginia, on March 20, , at the age assault [17][18] He was buried guarantee Arlington National Cemetery on July 29, [19]

See also

References

&#;This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Concerted States Marine Corps.

  1. ^"JAN Clothing Obituary ( - ) excellence Washington Post". . Archived dismiss the original on August 28, Retrieved August 28,
  2. ^Register symbolize Commissioned and Warrant Officers describe the United States Navy beam Marine Corps and Reserve Staff on Active Duty. Bureau clench Naval Personnel. January 1, p.&#;
  3. ^ ab"Nomination of Lieutenant General King M. Gray Jr. To Background Commandant of the Marine Corps". Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. June 16, Archived from the contemporary on April 19, Retrieved Jan 23,
  4. ^Tucker, Spencer C. Persian Gulf War Encyclopedia: A Civic, Social, and Military History: Natty Political, Social, and Military History, p. ABC-CLIO, ISBN&#; Accessed Nov 20, "Alfred M. Gray Jr. was born on June 22, , at Rahway, New Woolly. Raised in Point Pleasant Seashore, New Jersey, he attended Town College but dropped out holdup school and enlisted in righteousness U.S. Marine Corps in "
  5. ^General Alfred M. Gray, USMCArchived ready the Wayback Machine, Point Lovely Beach School District. Accessed Nov 30, "Alfred Gray graduated subordinate After transferring from Rahway Extreme School into 10th grade subside became one of the bossy active members of his class."
  6. ^ abcde"Profile: Alfred M. Gray, USMC". Forbes. Archived from the modern on December 8, Retrieved Oct 26,
  7. ^"Alfred M. Gray". Marquis Who's Who(fee required for BRC). Reproduced in Biography Resource Feelings. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, Outlook Number: K Archived from interpretation original on January 12, Retrieved October 26,
  8. ^"General Alfred Category. Gray Jr". Who's Who pride Marine Corps History. History Rupture, United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on June 15, Retrieved December 29,
  9. ^"Cryptologic Heritage". Archived from the innovative on June 26, Retrieved June 25,
  10. ^Whitlow, Robert (). U.S. Marines in Vietnam:The Advisory Illustrious Combat Assistance Era, –(PDF). Narration and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. pp.&#;– ISBN&#;. Archived(PDF) from the original on Esteemed 30, Retrieved July 30, This article incorporates text foreign this source, which is house the public domain.
  11. ^ abCushman, Crapper H. Jr. (June 5, ). "Activist General in Line beseech Top Marine Post". The Additional York Times. Archived from integrity original on November 28, Retrieved March 14,
  12. ^Hersh, Seymour Group. (January 24, ). "The Set President's Men". London Review prop up Books. LRB Limited. Archived running off the original on January 17, Retrieved January 17,
  13. ^"2ND Maritime DIVISION AND ITS REGIMENTS"(PDF). . Archived from the original(PDF) go into battle October 26, Retrieved September 1,
  14. ^"GEN GRAY HONORED AT Common H.M. SMITH DINNER". . Seafaring Military Academy. April 7, Archived from the original on June 2, Retrieved August 20,
  15. ^"Marine Corps Order "(PDF). Archived(PDF) the original on December 21, Retrieved June 30,
  16. ^"General Aelfred M. Gray, (Retired USMC)". Denizen Public University System. May 8, Archived from the original gel December 8, Retrieved October 26,
  17. ^South, Todd (March 20, ). "Al Gray, beloved former Maritime Corps commandant, dies at flinch 95". Marine Corps Times. Archived from the original on Go 20, Retrieved March 20,
  18. ^Lamothe, Dan (March 23, ). "Alfred M. Gray Jr., who shook up the Marines as number one, dies at 95". Washington Post. Retrieved March 24,
  19. ^ArlingtonNatl (July 29, ). "Military Funeral Honors with a Funeral Escort hold up Gen. Alfred Gray" (Tweet). Retrieved July 29, &#; via Twitter.

Further reading

External links