Al Gray Rest in Peace Semper Fi

 

The 95-year-old New Jersey native rose from private to four-star general, leading the Corps during the fall of the Soviet Union and the Persian Gulf War.

Gray served as commandant from 1987 to 1991, retiring after 41 years of military service. During his tenure and in retirement he was widely beloved by Marines both in and out of uniform.

Gray enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1950 and commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1952, according to his official biography. His early tours were with 11th and 7th Marine Regiments, 1st Marine Division in Korea.

He later saw service in Vietnam where his actions on May 14, 1967, resulted in his being awarded the Silver Star Medal.

Gray was serving as the commanding officer of the Composite Artillery Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, according to his Silver Star citation. That night three Marines on their way to a listening post entered a heavily mined area by mistake.

One of the Marines was killed when he detonated a mine, which also injured his fellow Marines.

Maj. Gray and another Marine rushed to the mined area and cleared a 40-meter path through the unmarked field. Gray guided stretcher-bearers in as he moved one of the injured Marines and began rendering first aid.

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Gray established a legacy of heroism in combat, deploying eight times to lead Marines in dangerous missions – several of them clandestine. Gray earned the distinction of leading the first independent ground operations by a Marine unit in Vietnam while commanding a composite unit of signals intelligence Marines supported by attached infantry. 

During his several deployments to Vietnam, Gray pioneered modern signals intelligence collection methods and developed operational employment concepts in which intelligence drove follow-on operations. His lifelong advocacy for such techniques earned him admittance to the National Security Agency’s Hall of Honor in 2008 for lifetime achievements in the area of signals intelligence. His early work and establishment of two units, formed the nucleus of what is known today as the Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion.

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On the morning of July 29, 2024, some 500 somber Marines and friends of the Corps gathered in person inside the Fort Myer Memorial Chapel. Those 500 were only a fraction of the thousands, the tens of thousands, and even the hundreds of thousands who knew and loved General Alfred M. Gray, Jr. Everyone in the chapel rose to their feet when two junior Marines in dress blues slowly and reverently brought General Gray's flag draped coffin down the center aisle. The honorary pall bearers were all former Commandants.

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General Charles C. Krulak

General James L. Jones

General Michael W. Hagee

General James T. Conway

General James F. Amos

General Joseph F. Dunford Jr.

General Robert B. Neller

General David H. Berger

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The service began with a reading from Job 19:25-27:

25 I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.

26  And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;

27  I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

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Eulogies were provided by:

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Lieutenant General George J. Flynn (ret), a former aide to General Gray and close family friend.

General Eric M. Smith, Commandant of the Marine Corps

Rear Admiral Carey H. Cash, Chaplain of the Marine Corps

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All the speakers paid tribute not only to General Gray but also to his wife, Mrs. Janice G. Gray who was being buried along with her husband. In life, the couple were well known for their love of each other, their love for their dogs, and their devotion to the Marine Corps.

Music was performed by a quintet from the Presidents Own and two vocalists who led the singing of two hymns selected by General Gray, "Onward Christian Soldiers" and "In the Garden."

At the conclusion of the service at Memorial Chapel, General Gray's flag draped coffin was moved to the grave site. Two ceremonial rifle companies from the Marine Barracks at 8th & I, as well as the Marine Corps band provided a solemn escort. Also escorting was a single horse, riderless, with boots backwards, signifying the loss of a warrior.

Once everyone had assembled at grave site, funeral honors continued with a fly over by four AV8B Harrier jets who executed the missing man maneuver. Next, a 19-gun cannon salute paid respect to General Gray and then a 21-gun rifle volley. After only a few words from Admiral Cash, a lone trumpeter played Taps. The flag detail slowly folded the flag and passed the flag to General Smith, who presented the flag to the family representative, General Flynn.

General and Mrs. Gary are interred at Arlington National Cemetery, section 35 - 3341.

Those Marines and members of the broad Marine community who were able to assemble at Arlington National Cemetery on a hot Monday afternoon in July were the representatives of so many more all around the world who are paying their respects to General Gray.  Once when he was asked what was different about being in charge of the Marine Corps, instead of one of the other services, Gray is said to have replied that America expects the Marine Corps Commandant to be "personally responsible for his Marines." 

Rest easy Marine. You have done your duty. You have won your race.

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Eternal Father, grant we pray.

To all Marines both night and day.

The courage, honor, strength and skill

Their land to serve, Thy law fulfill.

Be Thou the shield forevermore

From every peril to the Corps

-- Eternal Father hymn (Marine verse)

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzQVxtkLRwBsnLxGlfJCkHwxFVkB

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On this day when Gen Gray is laid to rest at Arlington, I recall a conversation I had with him about 3 years ago. I got his home number from MajGen Taylor because I wanted to invite him to be our GOH at the MCAGL Mess Night. He was very kind but said that he didn’t RON anymore because his wife was uncomfortable doing that.

Then I mentioned to him that my company was his right flank many years ago in an exercise called “Bold Guard” in Germany. Amazingly, he said that I must have been in Mitch Waters’ unit from Chicago. Said he didn’t get a chance to talk to Bold Guard veterans any more and he was glad I called. (I couldn’t believe it!) 

RIP, General, Semper Fidelis. 

Larry Anderson

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I am so glad you were able to speak to Gen Gray.  I bet he was happy to hear from a Marine who remembered him and could articulate where and when you met. 

Good of you to have made the call.

Alice Marie Joralemon-STRONG

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Always remember Gray’s motivating BOLD GUARD comment to then LTCOL Mitch Waters that if 2/24 wasn’t up to the armor/mech defense of our assigned sector as CG 4th MEB Gray intended “to hide you (guys) in a swamp”.


Will Holahan
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Mitch Waters was a good friend with Al Gray.

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Al Gray was an amazing guy and a great Commandant.

The first time I heard him speak was at an event in Chicago with wives - a dining in, perhaps? He was gruff and tough. I turned to my wife and said, "This guy is rough as a cobb. How did he ever make two Stars? This is as far as he will go."  Shows what I know.

The next time was at Command and Staff College when he was Commandant. Another Commo and I wanted the Reserves to start a Radio Battalion. We knew that Gray had a background in Radio Battalion and Electronic Warfare. So we set it up that we would ask questions and propose that he approve the concept.

He walked into the auditorium in cammies.  We stood at attention, and he barked "siddown!"

My friend and I popped up with the two questions proposing that the Reserves start a radio battalion.  We argued that the Marine Reserved did everything that the regular Marine Corps did, including complex aviation and air control units. And EW was vital and getting more important all the time.

General Gray said it was too complicated.

I saw Gray on the elevator at Norfolk. I was coming home from a long day at FMFLANT, in charlies. This genial little guy was on the elevator in civilian clothes.  I was respectful, trying to remember who he was. We chatted a bit. After I got off the elevator I realized it was Al Gray.

My last unit in the Marine Corps Reserve was with the Amphibious Warfare Technology Directorate, a small high tech unit that Gray started at Quantico and was head of for some time. We worked on high tech innovative weapons.  

My three bosses were civilian GS-15's and were good friends with General Gray. I met the then retired General several times with them.  I was the only Marine in the unit. It called for six Reserve Colonel Phd's in hard science. I was the only one, with a Masters in Environmental Science. 

Al Gray was our most impactful CMC.  Fair Winds and Following Seas, General. Semper Fi.

Craig Hullinger