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First Name: Stephen

Last Name: Gray

Birthplace: WA, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Army (1784 - present)



Home of Record: TX
Middle Name: Eugene



Date of Birth: 31 May 1925

Date of Death: 06 October 2015

Rank: First Lieutenant

Years Served:
Stephen Eugene Gray

   
Graduate, U.S. Military Academy, Class of 1946

Engagements:
•  World War II (1941 - 1945)
•  Korean War (1950 - 1953)
•  Vietnam War (1960 - 1973)

Biography:

Stephen Eugene Gray
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army

In September 1950, First Lieutenant Stephen Eugene Gray was serving with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, in Korea.

On 16 September, 1LT Gray's unit was engaged with enemy forces in the vicinity of Changnyong, Korea. As one of the leading elements in the 3rd Battalion, 1LT Gray led the 3rd platoon of Company L in an attack on enemy defensive positions along the Naktong River. His platoon came under extremely heavy enemy mortar, machine-gun, and small-arms fire. Under direct fire from an enemy machine gun, he led his platoon in a charge on the first objective and destroyed an enemy machine-gun and assisted in eliminating a group of sixty enemy soldiers in entrenched positions. Before leading the attack on the second objective, which was better defended than the first, he directed supporting mortar fire to within twenty-five yards of his own position and the binoculars hanging around his neck were hit by shell fragments. The assault with his platoon routed the enemy from their positions. 1LT Gray then organized a tank-infantry attack for a third objective, and again led the assault which drove the enemy from their man line of resistance. 1LT Gray's inspiring leadership was a major factor in the success of Company L's attempt to reach the Naktong River. His platoon's actions accounted for an estimated one hundred enemy dead and wounded; elimination of three mortars and two fortified machine-gun positionsl and one enemy field artillery piece. These actions earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Four days later, on 20 September 1950, 1LT Gray's company had crossed the Naktong River and had seized commanding terrain on the west bank. On 21 September, the enemy launched an attack in battalion strength against the company's positions. With intense artillery, mortar, and automatic weapons fire, the enemy succeeded in penetrating the Company's defensive positions and driving its forward elements back on 1LT Gray's platoon. The enemy attack was then concentrated on 1LT Gray's platoon and he repeatedly exposed himself to the enemy fire while directing the defensive tactics of his unit. He directed mortar fire on the advancing enemy, adjusting this fire to fall only a few yards in front of his position. His heroic conduct and grim determination to hold against overwhelming odds, inspired his men to greater efforts. After approximately 30 minutes of fierce, close-in fighting the numerically superior enemy force was repulsed, carrying an estimated 70 wounded with them and leaving 22 dead within a few yards of the platoon's position. 1LT Gray's gallantry earned him the U.S. Army's third highest award for valor, the Silver Star Medal.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross

Silver Star Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Stephen E. Gray (ASN: 0-28683), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company L, 3d Battalion, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Gray distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Changnyong, Korea, on 16 September 1950. As one of the leading elements in the 3d Battalion, Lieutenant Gray led the 3d platoon of Company L in an attack on enemy defensive positions along the Naktong River. His platoon immediately came under extremely heavy and accurate enemy mortar, machine-gun, and small-arms fire. Under direct fire from an enemy machine gun, he led his platoon forward in a charge on the first objective. He destroyed one enemy machine-gun and assisted in eliminating a group of sixty enemy soldiers who had the advantage of entrenched positions. Reorganizing his platoon, he prepared to continue the attack toward the second objective which was better defended than the first. In spite of this fact, he shouted to his platoon to move forward and courageously led the attack. At times prior to the second assault, he directed supporting mortar fire to within twenty-five yards of his own position. Although the binoculars hanging around his neck were hit by shell fragments, he did not hesitate in the face of this intense enemy fire, and the ferocity and daring of his assault along with his platoon routed the enemy from their positions. Upon receiving a third objective, Lieutenant Gray organized a tank-infantry attack, and again personally led the assault on the objective. This third assault completely demoralized the enemy and drove them from their man line of resistance. Lieutenant Gray's daring and inspiring leadership on this occasion was a major factor in the success of Company L's attempt to reach the Naktong River. His actions accounted for an estimated one hundred enemy dead and wounded, the elimination of three mortars, two fortified machine-gun positions, and one enemy field piece. The extraordinary heroism displayed by Lieutenant Gray reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.

General Orders: General Headquarters Far East Command: General Orders No. 166 (1951)

Silver Star Medal Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Stephen Eugene Gray (ASN: 0-28683), United States Army, for gallantry in action against an armed enemy on 21 September 1950 in the vicinity of Yongsan, Korea, while serving with Company L, 3d Battalion, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. On 20 September 1950 Lieutenant Gray's company had crossed the Naktong River and had seized commanding terrain on the west bank. On 21 September 1950 the enemy launched an attack in battalion strength against the company's positions. Subjecting the company to intense artillery, mortar, and automatic weapons fire, the enemy succeeded in penetrating the defensive positions and driving the forward elements of the company back on Lieutenant Gray's platoon. As the full fury of the enemy attack became concentrated on Lieutenant Gray's platoon position, he repeatedly exposed himself to the intense enemy fire as he directed the defensive tactics of his unit. With complete disregard for his personal safety, he directed mortar fire on the advancing enemy, adjusting this fire to fall but a few yards in front of his position. Throughout the engagement his heroic conduct under severe hostile fire and his grim determination to hold against overwhelming odds, inspired his men to greater efforts. After approximately 30 minutes of fierce close-in fighting the numerically superior enemy force was repulsed, leaving 22 dead within a few yards of the platoon's position and carrying an estimated 70 wounded with them. The gallantry and inspirational leadership demonstrated on this occasion by Lieutenant Gray reflect great credit upon himself and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, 2d Infantry Division, General Orders No. 115 (December 23, 1950)



Honoree ID: 309819   Created by: MHOH

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