[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 9] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 13102-13104] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]TRIBUTE TO COL. CHARLES P. MURRAY, JR., AMERICAN HERO ______ HON. JOE WILSON of south carolina in the house of representatives Wednesday, September 7, 2011 Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, on August 12, 2011, one of the most outstanding patriots of America's Greatest Generation passed away. The beloved Col. Charles P. Murray, Jr., a Medal of Honor recipient of World War II who also served in Korea and Vietnam died peacefully at home in Columbia, South Carolina. Colonel Chuck Murray was recognized by a thoughtful article on August 18, 2011, by Jeff [[Page 13103]] Wilkinson of The State (August 18, 2011) newspaper of Columbia. Col. Charles P. Murray Remembered (By Jeff Wilkinson) Col. Charles P. Murray, Jr., a Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, was remembered Wednesday in Columbia as a humble hero who protected his men in battle, loved his family and worked tirelessly, until his death at age 89, to promote veterans' issues and educate students about patriotism and service to country. ``The word hero has never been about football players and movie stars,'' retired Col. Kevin Shwedo, a past deputy commander of Fort Jackson, said in a eulogy. ``He defines what a hero is.'' After being drafted in 1942, Murray, who grew up in Wilmington, N.C., landed on Omaha Beach in 1944 after D-Day and joined the 3rd Infantry Division in France. On Dec. 16 near Kaysersberg, France, the platoon that Murray was leading was pinned down on a ridge under heavy fire by 200 well-entrenched Germans. Murray, using a variety of weapons, killed 20 enemy soldiers and captured 10 more, single-handedly driving the Germans from the position. At the end of his assault, a German grenade riddled him with shrapnel, wounding him in eight places. He spent only four days recovering at a medical aid station before ``borrowing'' a uniform and returning to his unit. None of the other men in his platoon was injured. ``His focus was keeping his men safe,'' Shwedo said. ``And he kept his men safe.'' Murray, awarded the Medal of Honor for that action, also received three Silver Stars and two Bronze Stars for other acts of valor. Murray's flag-draped coffin was carried by horse-drawn caisson from Dunbar Funeral Home to the First Presbyterian Church, a few blocks away. It was accompanied by pallbearers from the Arlington Cemetery's ``Old Guard,'' the Army's oldest active-duty infantry unit. Murray once was deputy commander of the unit, best known, perhaps, for maintaining a 24-hour-a-day vigil at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers included four Medal of Honor recipients--Sgt. John F. Baker Jr. of Columbia, Maj. Gen. James E. Livingston of Charleston, Sgt. Maj. Robert M. Patterson of Raleigh, N.C., and Col. Walter J. ``Joe'' Marm of Fremont, N. C.--as well as members of Murray's VFW Post 641. Also participating were a color guard and about 40 members of the 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Stewart, Ga., Murray's unit in World War II. Murray died of congestive heart failure Friday, six weeks after having a pacemaker implanted. He passed away in his bed while taking a nap, family members said. Murray is survived by his wife, Anne, son Brian of Fort Payne, Ala., and daughter Cynthia Anne of Roswell, Ga. Another son, Charles P. Murray III, of Columbia passed away in 2004. About 600 people attended the memorial service. More stood quietly outside on the sidewalk throughout the service to see Murray's remains pass by on the way to and from the church. ``I wanted to pay my respects,'' said Dick Rosenbeck of Columbia, a four-year veteran of the U. S. Air Force. Inside, dignitaries included Fort Jackson commander Maj. Gen. James Milano, U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson of Springdale and Col. Ted Bell of Columbia, one of The Citadel's most decorated graduates from World War II. Bell was on the faculty of the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Ga., after the war with Murray, a close friend. ``I thought he would be a big ol' dumb fella coming in there with all his exploits, but he had a brilliant mind,'' said Bell, 91, who received the Distinguished Service Cross and Silver Star while fighting in the Pacific. ``He was a fine person. A fine family man. And he was one of the greatest heroes we've ever known. There is no question about it.'' The Service of Worship for the Remembrance of and Thanksgiving for the Life of Col. Charles P. Murray, Jr., September 26, 1921-August 12, 2011, on August 17, 2011, was conducted at the historic First Presbyterian Church (Associate Reformed Presbyterian Denomination) established in 1795. This was the boyhood church of President Woodrow Wilson and his parents Reverend and Mrs. Joseph R. Wilson are buried in the Churchyard with Ann Pamela Cunningham who, in 1853, founded the Mount Vernon Ladies Association which purchased and preserved Mount Vernon: The following biography and citation were published in the program: Charles P. Murray, Jr. Charles P. Murray, Jr., entered the Army from Wilmington, North Carolina, in 1942, attended Infantry OCS and was commissioned 2d. Lt. in 1943. He served during WWII in France, Germany and Austria with 3d Infantry Division. His final combat assignment was as a brigade commander in Vietnam, where he served with the 196th Light Infantry Brigade and 9th Infantry Division. His awards include the Medal of Honor, the Silver Star (3 OLC), Legion of Merit (3 OLC), Bronze Star (OLC), Air Medal (6 OLC), Purple Heart, French Legion of Honor and Croix de Guerre, and various Republic of Vietnam commendation and service medals. He attended National War College and has degrees from University of North Carolina and George Washington University. Citation for the Medal of Honor 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. Participating in the service The Rev. Dr. Sinclair B. Ferguson, Senior Minister, The First Presbyterian Church; The Rev. L. Craig Wilkes, Associate Minister, The First Presbyterian Church; The Rev. Dr. Mark E. Ross, Professor of Theology, Erskine Seminary; Col. (ret.) Kevin A. Shwedo, Executive Director, South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles; Dr. Richard Conant, Professor Emeritus, University of South Carolina School of Music; Mr. Ronald E. Miller, Organist, The First Presbyterian Church. One of Colonel Murray's greatest honors was the naming in 2001 in appreciation of his service of Charles P. Murray Middle School in his childhood home of Wilmington, North Carolina. This is such an appropriate legacy for an American Hero. He was devoted to promoting freedom and opportunity for the young people of America. At Wilmington, he earned the Boy Scout Eagle Scout Award in 1934. He is one of only eight known Eagle Scouts to receive the Medal of Honor. In 1938, he graduated from Wilmington's New Hanover High School. Thomas E. McCutchen, Sr., Esq., one of South Carolina's most respected attorneys as senior partner of McCutchen, Blanton, Hopkins, and Campbell, LLP, eloquently praised his fellow church member: ``Colonel Charles Murray, Jr., was an incredible giant who successfully performed for all America and for you and for me. He was the ultimate solider. He was a step ahead of bravery. Every man, woman, and child here is indebted to him for freedom. On Sundays, he sat next to the outside aisle on the left side of this Church as you face the congregation.'' Colonel Murray was a vital participant in patriotic observances. He enlivened each year the Carolina Celebration of Liberty at the First Baptist Church of Columbia led by Pastor Wendell Estep and First Lady Linda Estep with the extraordinary choreography by Minister of Music Steve Phillips being passionately emceed by the legendary Joe Pinner. Each year, he highlighted the Columbia Veterans Day Parade, one of the nation's largest, where tens of thousands of school children recognized his achievements with the program organized by Mayors Patton Adams, Bob Coble, and now Steve Benjamin, with emcee Earl Brown who is Second Congressional District Deputy Director. I especially remember in 2003 Colonel Murray was recognized at the patriotic services at Grace Baptist Church in West Columbia organized by Mary Kerr and the late Reverend Bob Kelly. This was my last opportunity to appear with him in uniform as a Colonel in the Army National Guard. Another legacy of his life of service is his success with the late Medal of Honor recipient J. Elliott Williams, the Navy's most [[Page 13104]] decorated hero of the Vietnam War, in moving the Medal of Honor Society Museum to the U.S.S. Yorktown in 1993 at Patriot's Point in Charleston Harbor at Mount Pleasant. Colonel Murray was instrumental in October 2010 to work with Brigadier General Eugene F. Rogers and his wife former State Representative Elsie Rast Stuart Rogers (R-Pelion) along with Colonel Myron Harrington to organize the national 2010 Congressional Medal of Honor Convention at Charleston. The hosts were the South Carolina State Guard Foundation and The Citadel, South Carolina's historic military college. In 2004, Colonel Murray was presented an elegantly engraved Browning weapon by Herst Fabrique Nationale of Liege, Belgium, in appreciation of helping the liberation of Belgium, France and Luxembourg from the Nazis. It was presented to him at their subsidiary FN Manufacturing Company located near his home in Columbia which is recognized for its world class armaments. The Browning Automatic Rifle was his weapon on December 16, 1944. I will always cherish our final joint appearance as co- Grand Marshalls of the Sparkleberry Country Fair Parade this spring at Sandhills in Richland Northeast. This family- friendly event was organized by former County Councilman John Monroe and the white horse-drawn carriage was driven by Don Purcell. It was inspiring to see the public's warm response when they recognized Colonel Murray. My wife, Roxanne, and I know of his encouragement of young people in military service. He was a devoted advisor to our son Alan for his Field Artillery service in Iraq and his current service as an Army National Guard Major and Attorney General of South Carolina. Col. Murray and his wife, Anne, hosted our son Addison and fiancee Lauren Houston for the Washington 2001 Inaugural Ceremonies for Medal of Honor recipients and he is now a Lieutenant in the Navy having served as a physician in Iraq. At the 60th Anniversary of The Battle of the Bulge, Colonel Murray was an inspiration for our two youngest sons, Army Captain Julian Wilson and Army 2nd Lt. Hunter Wilson, where the Colonel gave real meaning to our visit to The Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial at Hamm, Luxembourg, which is a world-class perpetual shrine for our fallen heroes where General of the Army George S. Patton is buried facing thousands of his troops. Rest In Peace, Colonel Charles P. Murray, Jr. You have successfully completed your duty for the American people. ____________________