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Ross Franklin Gray (1 August 1920 - 27 February 1945) was born in Marvel Valley, Alabama. After leaving school and working as a carpenter, Gray enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve from that state in July 1942 and underwent recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina. He then joined the Twenty-Third Marines, Fourth Marine Division. In Spring 1943, he was promoted to Private First Class and transferred to Company A, First Battalion, Twenty-Fifth Marines. Following participation in the Marshalls and Marianas Campaigns in 1944, Gray was promoted to Sergeant and received training in the laying and clearing of minefields.
With his unit, he next took part in the bitter battle for Iwo Jima. On 21 February 1945, northeast of Airfield Number One, Gray cleared a path through heavily mined area then, while continually under fire, attacked and destroyed six Japanese emplacements with satchel charges. As the intense fight for Iwo Jima continued, Sergeant Gray was killed by an enemy shell on 27 February 1945. For his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his own life" during the 21 February action, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Ross F. Gray is buried at Ada Chapel Cemetery, West Blocton, Alabama.
USS Gray, DE-1054, was the first ship named in his honor.
(US Navy photo #NH 103802 from the US Naval Historical Center) |
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9 March 1982: At sea - A port beam view of the Knox class frigate USS Gray (FF-1054) underway off the coast of California. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-84-00103 by PH1 R.G. Swan from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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9 March 1982: At sea - A port beam view of Gray underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-84-00104 by PH1 R.G. Swan from the DVIC) |
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9 March 1982: At sea - A port bow view of Gray underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-84-00105 by PH1 R.G. Swan from the DVIC ) |
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9 March 1982: At sea - A port bow view of Gray underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-84-00106 by PH1 R.G. Swan from the DVIC ) |
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9 March 1982: At sea - A port bow view of Gray underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-84-00107 by PH1 R.G. Swan from the DVIC ) |
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9 March 1982: At sea - A port bow view of Gray underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-84-00108 by PH1 R.G. Swan from the DVIC ) |
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9 March 1982: At sea - A port quarterview of Gray underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-84-00109 by PH1 R.G. Swan from the DVIC ) |
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9 March 1982: At sea - A starboard beam view of Gray underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-84-00110 by PH1 R.G. Swan from the DVIC ) |
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9 March 1982: At sea - A high angle starboard bow view of Gray underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-84-00111 by PH1 R.G. Swan from the DVIC ) |
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9 March 1982: At sea - A starboard bow view of Gray underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-84-00112 by PH1 R.G. Swan from the DVIC ) |
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9 March 1982: At sea - A starboard bow view of Gray underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-84-00113 by PH1 R.G. Swan from the DVIC ) |
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9 March 1982: At sea - A starboard bow view of Gray underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-84-00114 by PH1 R.G. Swan from the DVIC ) |
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9 March 1982: At sea - A starboard bow view of Gray underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-84-00115 by PH1 R.G. Swan from the DVIC ) |
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9 March 1982: At sea - A high-angle bow view of Gray underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-84-00116 by PH1 R.G. Swan from the DVIC ) |
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9 March 1982: At sea - A bow view of Gray underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-84-00117 by PH1 R.G. Swan from the Defense Visual Information Center ) |
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9 March 1982: At sea - A high-angle stern view of Gray underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-84-00118 by PH1 R.G. Swan from the DVIC ) |
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10 February 1986: At sea - An aerial view of Naval Reserve Force frigates USS Wadsworth (FFG-9), USS Duncan (FFG-10), Gray, USS Lang (FF-1060) and tank landing ship USS Racine (LST-1191) underway with fleet oiler USS Cimmaron (AO-177), frigate USS Stein (FF-1065), and Canadian guided missile destroyer HMAS Hobart (D-39). The ships are participating in an anti-submarine exercise off the coast of California. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-86-03122 from the DVIC ) |
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1 January 1987: At sea - An aerial portside view of Gray underway. Exact date shot unknown. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-05-06675 from the DVIC ) |
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1 January 1987: At sea - An aerial port side view of Gray with the USN Newport Class Tank Landing Ship USS Racine (LST-1191) in trail underway at sea. Exact date shot unknown. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-05-06662 from the DVIC ) |
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