John E. Murray

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John Einar Murray
Murray serving at the US Department of Defense in 1989
Born(1918-11-22)22 November 1918
Clifton, New Jersey
Died1 September 2008(2008-09-01) (aged 89)
Norfolk, Virginia
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1941–1974
Rank Major General
Battles/warsWorld War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
AwardsDistinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit (5)
Bronze Star Medal

John Einar Murray (22 November 1918 – 1 September 2008) was a United States Army Major General, who served as Defense Attaché to South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

Early life[edit]

Murray was born on 22 November 1918 in Clifton, New Jersey.[1][2][3]

Military service[edit]

While studying at St. John's University, he was drafted into the Army on 9 July 1941 just before the United States entered World War II. Murray was promoted to warrant officer on 11 September 1942 and commissioned as a second lieutenant on 6 January 1943. He later completed an LL.B. degree at New York Law School in October 1949 and an M.A. degree in international affairs at George Washington University in 1961. Murray also graduated from the United States Army War College in 1961.[1][2][3][4]

Murray's Army career spanned three wars and ten military campaigns.[3] He was promoted to brigadier general on 2 June 1970 and major general on 1 March 1972.[2]

Murray with Navy commander Trần Văn Chơn and Air Force commander Tran Van Minh, March 1973

In January 1973, Murray was appointed as Defense Attaché to South Vietnam.[5]

In late August 1974, Murray wrote that “without proper support the RVNAF (Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces) are going lose, maybe not next week, or next month, but after the year they are going to.”[6]

Murray retired from active duty in the Army on 1 September 1974.[2]

Later life[edit]

In June 1975, Murray was conferred an honorary LL.D. degree by New York Law School.[2][7]

In 1988, Murray was appointed Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict by President Ronald Reagan. He retired from government service in 1989.[3]

After his death in Norfolk, Virginia in 2008, he was interred at Arlington National Cemetery with his wife Elaine Claire Murray (10 September 1921 – 3 May 1970).[3][8]

References[edit]

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.

  1. ^ a b U.S. Army Register: Active and Retired List. Vol. I. Washington, D.C.: Department of the Army. 1 January 1966. p. 410. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Resume of Service Career of John Einar Murray, Major General" (PDF). U.S. Army Transportation Command. 1 June 1985. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 April 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e "John E. Murray". The Washington Post. 16–18 November 2008. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  4. ^ Commencement Exercises. New York Law School. 29 October 1949. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  5. ^ Veith, George (2012). Black April The Fall of South Vietnam 1973-75. Encounter Books. p. 56. ISBN 9781594035722.
  6. ^ Martin Woollacott (21 April 2015). "Forty years on from the fall of Saigon: witnessing the end of the Vietnam war". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  7. ^ 83rd Commencement Exercises. New York Law School. 8 June 1975. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  8. ^ "Murray, John E". ANCExplorer. U.S. Army. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
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