World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. He served as a Sergeant in the US Marine Corps in Company A, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for action at Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands on February 21, 1945. His citation reads in part "Alone and unarmed but carrying a huge satchel charge, he crept up on the Japanese emplacement, boldly hurled the short-fused explosive, and sealed the entrance. Instantly taken under machine-gun fire from a second entrance to the same position, he unhesitatingly braved the increasing vicious fusillades to crawl back for another charge, returned to his objective, and blasted the second opening, thereby demolishing the position. Repeatedly covering the ground between the savagely defended enemy fortifications and his platoon area, he systematically approached, attacked, and withdrew under blanketing fire to destroy a total of six Japanese positions, more than 25 troops, and a quantity of vital ordnance gear and ammunition. Stouthearted and indomitable, Sgt. Gray had singlehandedly overcome a strong enemy garrison and had completely disarmed a large minefield before finally rejoining his unit."
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. He served as a Sergeant in the US Marine Corps in Company A, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for action at Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands on February 21, 1945. His citation reads in part "Alone and unarmed but carrying a huge satchel charge, he crept up on the Japanese emplacement, boldly hurled the short-fused explosive, and sealed the entrance. Instantly taken under machine-gun fire from a second entrance to the same position, he unhesitatingly braved the increasing vicious fusillades to crawl back for another charge, returned to his objective, and blasted the second opening, thereby demolishing the position. Repeatedly covering the ground between the savagely defended enemy fortifications and his platoon area, he systematically approached, attacked, and withdrew under blanketing fire to destroy a total of six Japanese positions, more than 25 troops, and a quantity of vital ordnance gear and ammunition. Stouthearted and indomitable, Sgt. Gray had singlehandedly overcome a strong enemy garrison and had completely disarmed a large minefield before finally rejoining his unit."
Bio by: Don Morfe
Inscription
MEDAL OF HONOR
SGT US MARINE CORPS
WORLD WAR II
Family Members
Other Records
Advertisement
See more Gray memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
