- SURNAME
Murray
- FORENAME
Joseph M.
- UNIT
6 SF Group (Company A)
- RANK
Sergeant First Class
- NUMBER
- AWARD
Silver Star
- PLACE
North Vietnam 1970 (Son Tay)
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
CITATION:
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 8, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant First Class Joseph M. Murray, United States Army, for gallantry in action on 21 November 1970 as a member of an all-volunteer joint U.S. Army and Air Force raiding force in the Joint Chiefs of Staff-directed heliborne assault mission to rescue United States military personnel held as prisoners of war at Son Tay prison in North Vietnam. This valiant effort was motivated by deep compassion for his imprisoned fellow men-at-arms, and by a strong sense of military duty and national pride. Sergeant Murray was assigned the specific mission of clearing key buildings outside the prison compound. Upon debarking from the assault aircraft in which he was riding, he came under fire from an enemy force armed with automatic weapons. He returned fire on the enemy's position, neutralizing it. Upon reaching his objective, he came under fire from a building complex. With complete disregard for his personal safety, he assaulted the guard billets, throwing a grenade through a window. While doing so, he was wounded in the right leg. Sergeant Murray's daring skill, extraordinary heroism against an armed hostile force, and extreme devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself and the United States Army.
WEB LINKS:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/24578
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