KING HIGH SCHOOL REMEMBERS

By: Jeremy Miulli, Louis

Vasquez, Johnny

Chicollo. Corona.

U.S. History P.2

4-2-10

In Memory of George F. Murray, Jr.Jan. 18, 1919- Feb. 19, 2007

Background Info. In June of 1940

Mr. Murray enlisted in the U.S. Army. His mother died in 1934 and then decided he would dedicate his life to the military. He then joined the Rhode Island National Guard.

Military Background before P.H.

In 1940 he enlisted in the army and sailed from Brooklyn, N.Y. to be stationed at Scholfield Barracks, on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii. He was assigned to the 8th Field Artillery Regiment.

25th infantry DivisionMr. Murray was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division a few months before the dreadful attack by the Japanese on December 7, 1941.

December 6, 1941Late on the night of December 6th 1941 Mr. Murray and his buddies were out having a good time at a bar and later returned to Schofield Barracks from Honolulu. Little did he know this was the last time he would see some of those men…

December 7, 1941“A date which will live in infamy.”As Mr. Murray recalled: early the next morning while he was taking his morning shower he heard commotion outside his room. He thought they were doing morning bombing drills. Out the window to his surprise was “the rising sun” of a Jap plane going over head.

December 7, 1941“A day that will live in infamy.” (Cont.)

Mr. Murray and his friends were instructed to gather women and children and get them into large refrigerator boxes for protection. Then they loaded all their equipment onto trucks to take their positions on the beach.

December 7, 1941“A date which will live in infamy.” (Cont.)

While waiting for their positions to be readied, Mr. Murray and the 11,000 others passed the time listening to the radio for any news on the unprovoked attack. They would discover that Pearl Harbor and the city of Honolulu

would fall victim and even rumors would swirl of a poison gas attack. It wasn’t until later in the day that Mr. Murray finally reached his assigned position on the beach where the artillery placements were.

The attack on Pearl Harbor destroyed many great battleships

November 17, 1942Mr. Murray sailed from Hawaii, not knowing his destination would be the island of Guadalcanal. There they would relieve the 1st Marine Division.

His Journey to and from Japan“The taking of these islands were some of the hardest fought in the South Pacific.” Stated Mr. Murray. While in Guadalcanal he fought his way through the jungle always on the look out for the Japanese. They were said to be high up in the trees waiting for an unlucky soldier to walk down the path.

After fierce fighting they accomplished their mission and took the island from the Japanese, then advanced to the island of New Georgia. While unloading supplies a torpedo explosion ejected Mr. Murray from the ship. He landed on his shoulder disabling him. After spending nine months recovering in a New Zealand hospital, he was sent back to the states.

Medals He ReceivedArmy Reserve Meritorious Service Good Conduct ArmyComponent Medal Medal CommendationAchievement Medalmedal

Medals he Received (Cont)American American Asiatic World War II Defense Campaign Pacific VictoryMedal Medal Medal Medal

Medals he Received (Cont.)National Defense Armed Forces

Service Medal Reserve Medal

With Bronze With 2 HourStar Glass

January 8th 1945Mr. Murray was discharged from duty and stated: “it was a great experience. One you live through but don’t want to repeat.”

Rosemary Westlake Murray Having met

Rosemary Westlake in 1940, Mr. Murray kept up correspondence with her. She and her girl friends organized a club and wrote to many of the boys from her home town who volunteered when the war started.

Mr. and Mrs. MurrayMr. and Mrs. Murray were married on September 15, 1945 and were married for 61 years before he passed away on February 19, 2007

After the war was over.Mr. and Mrs. Murray were married in Westport, Connecticut and lived there for the next 20 years.

After warFollowing the war, Mr. Murray would have a short stint with the Westport police department, would own a trucking company and finally a night club before moving the family to Riverside.

Mr. Murray still kept fighting.

Mr. and Mrs. Murray had eight children, the the oldest of which would join the Air Force and see action during the Vietnam War.

Total Time In UniformIn total, Mr. Murray spent 34 years 6 months and 19 days in service to his country.

QuoteMr. Murray having lived such a great life for such a long time had one last thing to say before he went to fight the big war… “This is my recollection of that very eventful day, a long and scary one, with my imagination running at full speed.”

Dedicated to George F. Murray, Jr. and his wife Rosemary Westlake Murray may they be guided on

their way to happiness. RIP