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World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
First Lt. Charles Patrick Murray Jr., US Army
TRIBUTE TO COL. CHARLES P. MURRAY, JR. -- HON. FLOYD SPENCE
(Extension of Remarks - October 11, 1995)
HON. FLOYD SPENCE
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.
CITATION:
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 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.
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