Medal of Honor recipient Charles Murray dies

[bruno]

When I read the citations of Medal of Honor recipients, I'm always struck with a sense of awe and almost disbelief at their actions. Murray went on to serve until 1973 in Korea and Vietnam retiring as a full Colonel. The Country and the Army owe you and all of your compatriots a debt of gratitude that we can't begin to repay.
RIP

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2011/08/ap-medal-of-honor-recipient-charles-murray-dies-081511/

Col. Charles Murray Jr., who received the Medal of Honor in World War II for single-handedly stopping an attack on U.S. troops by 200 Germans during World War II, has died.

Murray died from congestive heart failure Friday while taking a nap in his Columbia home. He was 89 and had a pacemaker implanted about six weeks earlier, said his son Brian Murray.

Col. Murray was part of the 3rd Infantry Division that fought through France and Germany during the last years of World War II. He received the highest military award given by the U.S. government for his actions as commander of a company in the mountains of far eastern France in December 1944.

Murray was ordered to lead his men to take over a bridge and build a roadblock. But as he descended into a valley, he found German troops had pinned down an American battalion on the crest of a ridge. The Germans were protected by a sunken road, and the only way to attack was from their flanks. Instead of committing his entire patrol, Murray decided to see what he could do on his own, according to the citation that accompanied his Medal of Honor.

Murray first ordered artillery strikes, but his radio went dead right after the first shells missed the German troops. Murray then started firing at the Germans, first with grenades, then with an automatic rifle, all while taking heavy fire. He killed 20, wounded many others and sent the enemy into such disarray that they withdrew....

First Lieutenant Murray's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

For commanding Company C, 30th Infantry, displaying supreme courage and heroic initiative near Kaysersberg, France, on 16 December 1944, while leading a reinforced platoon into enemy territory. Descending into a valley beneath hilltop positions held by our troops, he observed a force of 200 Germans pouring deadly mortar, bazooka, machinegun, and small arms fire into an American battalion occupying the crest of the ridge. The enemy's position in a sunken road, though hidden from the ridge, was open to a flank attack by 1st Lt. Murray's patrol but he hesitated to commit so small a force to battle with the superior and strongly disposed enemy. Crawling out ahead of his troops to a vantage point, he called by radio for artillery fire. His shells bracketed the German force, but when he was about to correct the range his radio went dead. He returned to his patrol, secured grenades and a rifle to launch them and went back to his self-appointed outpost. His first shots disclosed his position; the enemy directed heavy fire against him as he methodically fired his missiles into the narrow defile. Again he returned to his patrol. With an automatic rifle and ammunition, he once more moved to his exposed position. Burst after burst he fired into the enemy, killing 20, wounding many others, and completely disorganizing its ranks, which began to withdraw. He prevented the removal of 3 German mortars by knocking out a truck. By that time a mortar had been brought to his support. 1st Lt. Murray directed fire of this weapon, causing further casualties and confusion in the German ranks. Calling on his patrol to follow, he then moved out toward his original objective, possession of a bridge and construction of a roadblock. He captured 10 Germans in foxholes. An eleventh, while pretending to surrender, threw a grenade which knocked him to the ground, inflicting 8 wounds. Though suffering and bleeding profusely, he refused to return to the rear until he had chosen the spot for the block and had seen his men correctly deployed. By his single-handed attack on an overwhelming force and by his intrepid and heroic fighting, 1st Lt. Murray stopped a counterattack, established an advance position against formidable odds, and provided an inspiring example for the men of his command.[4]

 

[Boozebin]

Incredible story… though he lived a long life it’s still sad to see one of our nations heroes pass. My prayers go out to Col. Murray and his family.

 

[AF6872]

I am also in awe when I read the MOH Citations. That we can have such people that live among us is amazing. They only wanted to go home and live a normal life but many gave above and beyond.