- SURNAME
Gray
- FORENAME
Philip Richard
- UNIT
former 1st Marine Parachute Regiment
- RANK
Captain
- NUMBER
0-10717
- DATE OF DEATH
28th February 1945
- AGE
26
- GRAVESITE
Rest-Haven Memorial Park, Eugene, Oregon, USA
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
resided Cottage Grove, Oregon
born 17.03.1918 Buckingham, Colorado, USA
father Frank Eugene Gray (1880-1972)
mother Lois Esther (nee Dunton) Gray (1877-1956)
educated Scottsbluff and Mitchell, Nebraska
1941 graduated Oregon State College
15.05.1941 entered service
22.02.1943 married Winona (nee Kyle)
Next of kin - Wife, Philip R. Gray, c/o N.C. Kyle, Jewell, Oregon
DOW Iwo Jima, Japan
posthumous Navy Cross
DATE OF DEATH:
28-Feb-1945CITATION:
Navy Cross : The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Captain Philip R. Gray (MCSN: 0-10717), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of a Rifle Platoon, attached to Company I, Third Battalion, Twenty-Seventh Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces at Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 28 February 1945. With the forward assault elements pinned down by shattering hostile mortar, artillery and small-arms fire during a sustained drive to seize heavily fortified Hill 362, Captain Gray voluntarily left his position in the observation post and advanced under the withering barrage to the base platoon. After making a quick reconnaissance of the situation, he rallied his weary, depleted units and, despite a serious shrapnel wound received earlier in the action, decided to lead his men in a final, desperate attempt to seize the strong point. With approaches to the objective closely guarded by a fanatic, determined enemy deeply entrenched in rocky ridges and caves, he pushed his relentless advance up the open, gun-studded slopes, stormed the heights of this vitally strategic hill and succeeded in overrunning the position before nightfall. Again voluntarily exposing himself to the enemy's incessant sniper and mortar fire, he moved forward in an effort to consolidate his company lines for night security and, while carrying out his perilous mission, was fatally struck down by a bursting shell. A brilliant and inspiring leader, Captain Gray, by his tenacious perseverance, outstanding fortitude and undaunted valor maintained in the face of tremendous odds, contributed materially to the success of the Iwo Jima Campaign and his self-sacrificing devotion to duty throughout reflects the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
