City dedicates Oceanside flagpole to legendary Marine general

OCEANSIDE --- With the command "forward march," three Marines marched toward a tall silver flagpole Monday morning, halting to attach a new American flag.

Dressed in olive green service uniforms, the Marines hoisted Old Glory aloft as the 1st Marine Division Band played the national anthem. Immediately the flag began to stream westward in a stiff offshore breeze, silhouetted against the azure background of a cloudless January sky.

The flag will stand atop a 60-foot flagpole next to the Murray Bridge at College Boulevard and North River Road in northeast Oceanside as a tribute to the late retired Maj. Gen. Raymond Murray, one of the Marine Corp's most celebrated, decorated and respected leaders.

More than 100 people, many of them ranking active or retired Marine generals, came to a dedication ceremony Monday to honor Murray, whose 92nd birthday would have been Sunday. Murray died Nov. 11, 2004, of heart failure.

"Ray, we dedicate this flagpole to you. It's a symbol of our devotion, our respect and our thanks to you," said retired Maj. Gen. Wilbur Simlik who gave a keynote address. "Ray, happy birthday."

Jim Murray, the general's son, traveled from Greenwood, S.C., with his family to attend Monday's ceremony. He said his father would have been proud of the tribute, but added, "He would have said it's a nice flag, but it's for everybody."

Raymond Murray served as commanding general of Camp Pendleton from March 1961 to June 1962 and lived in Oceanside after he retired on Aug. 1, 1968.

His military career spanned 33 years, and it included service in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

In World War II, Murray fought in the Pacific Theater, earning two Silver Star Medals, a Navy Cross and a Purple Heart for leading Marines in Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Saipan.

It was Murray's service in Korea as commander of the famous 5th Marine Regiment that earned him legendary status in the Marine Corps. In 1950, he participated in battles credited with halting the progress of North Korea, including conflicts at Naktong River, Wolmi-Inchon and Seoul.

At Chosin Reservoir, Murray led his Marines 100 miles to safety through sub-zero temperatures and attacks from Chinese troops. Then a lieutenant colonel, Murray was personally responsible for motivating his men to survive the brutal march and for refusing to give up on stragglers. He was later awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by Gen. Douglas MacArthur for his heroism during at Chosin Reservoir. He also received his third and fourth Silver Star Medals and the Legion of Merit award during the Korean War.

His last combat duty assignment was in Vietnam serving as deputy commander of the III Marine Amphibious Force.

After he retired, Meyer turned his attention to the community full time. He participated in the local Boys and Girls Club and served as president of the Rotary Club of Oceanside in 1975 and 1976.

He also met regularly with a local chapter of a survivor group called the Chosin Few ---- survivors of the Chosin Reservoir campaign still living in North County.

Many of the Chosin Few came to Monday's dedication ceremony to get a look at Murray's flagpole.

Retired Staff Sgt. Frank Trujillo served under Murray throughout his tour of duty in Korea and was present at the Chosin Reservoir.

"He was the perfect general, the perfect man," Trujillo said. "I've met a lot of generals, but none like Gen. Murray."

Trujillo said he lives nearby, further down North River Road near Camp Pendleton's back gate. Everyday-life's errands take him past the intersection where the new flag now flaps in the breeze.

Bob Kremer was a Navy corpsman during the Chosin Reservoir campaign who got to know Murray after he retired and remembered him during his days on active duty as a commander who always had time for enlisted men.

"He just never lost track of people," Kremer said. "He was a deck plate officer. That means he would get down below and talk to the sailors who were doing the work."

Murray's other Oceanside legacy is a concrete bridge over the San Luis Rey River that connects College Boulevard to North River Road. During the year he ran Camp Pendleton, Murray lobbied for the bridge to replace a river-level crossing that regularly washed out during heavy rains. The bridge was renamed in his honor on Jan. 30, 2003.

Zona Murray, right in black, widow of Major Gen. Raymond L. Murray USMC (ret.) and other family members along with the public watch the flag being raised for the first time during the dedication of the Murray Bridge Memorial Flagpole

A truly remarkable man and patriot!

2 posted on 02/01/2005 6:14:36 AM PST by RAY (They that do right are all heroes!)

Murray to St Pete: "Another Marine reporting for duty."

3 posted on 02/01/2005 6:39:46 AM PST by HMFIC (The Peace Symbol is the FOOTPRINT of the American CHICKEN!)

"Ray, we dedicate this flagpole to you. It's a symbol of our devotion, our respect and our thanks to you," said retired Maj. Gen. Wilbur Simlik who gave a keynote address. "Ray, happy birthday."

Thank you for this post, Dubya - and the heads-up at the Finest! What a wonderful tribute to Maj. General Murray.

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