[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 157 (Wednesday, October 11, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1912]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO COL. CHARLES P. MURRAY, JR.

                                 ______


                           HON. FLOYD SPENCE

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 11, 1995

  Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, today, in a joint meeting, the Congress 
honored World War II veterans, their families, and those who served on 
the home front to ensure that freedom prevailed in that great conflict. 
This moving ceremony was part of the closing activities of the 
commemoration of the 50th anniversary of World War II.
  Representing the Second Congressional District of South Carolina at 
the joint meeting was Medal of Honor recipient Col. Charles P. Murray, 
Jr., who was accompanied by this wife, Anne. Colonel and Mrs. Murray 
reside in Columbia. Colonel Murray served valiantly in World War II. He 
is an outstanding patriot who is most deserving of the recognition that 
he has received. I would like to take this opportunity to include in 
the Congressional Record, the entry of Colonel Murray, which appears in 
the publication ``Medal of honor Recipients 1863-1978,'' prepared by 
the Committee on Veterans' affairs of the United States Senate. I feel 
that his example is an inspiration to all as we honor those, like 
Colonel Murray, who dedicated themselves to the call of duty to our 
great Nation in World War II.

                        Murray, Charles P., Jr.

       Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company 
     C, 30th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near 
     Kaysersberg, France, 16 December 1944. Entered service at: 
     Wilmington, N.C. Birth: Baltimore, Md. G.O. No. 63, 1 August 
     1945. Citation: 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 smallarms 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 an 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 singlehanded 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.

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