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Maxwell Murray (June 19, 1885 – August 4, 1948) was a
United States Army officer, who rose to the rank of
major general. Murray commanded the
25th Infantry Division during the
Attack on Pearl Harbor. He was the son of Major General
Arthur Murray.
Early years and World War I
Maxwell Murray was born on June 19, 1885, at
West Point, New York, as a son of Major General
Arthur Murray, first
Chief of Coast Artillery Corps and his wife Sarah Wetmore DeRussy, daughter of
Union Brigadier General
René Edward De Russy.
Murray attended the
United States Military Academy during the years 1903–1907 and was commissioned a
second lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank.
Australia
The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...
of the
Cavalry
Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry ...
on June 14, 1907. During World War I, Murray was transferred to the Field Artillery branch on January 13, 1917, and sent with
5th Field Artillery
The 5th Field Artillery Regiment was constituted as part of the Regular Army in January 1907. Individual battalions have lineages which date back further. Currently, it is a parent regiment under the U.S. Army Regimental System, with a single ...
within
1st Infantry Division 1st Division may refer to:
Military
Airborne divisions
*1st Parachute Division (Germany)
*1st Airborne Division (United Kingdom)
*1st Airmobile Division (Ukraine)
*1st Guards Airborne Division
Armoured divisions
*1st Armoured Division (Australi ...
to the
colonel and was put in command of the 5th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)">5th Field Artillery Regiment
The 5th Field Artillery Regiment was constituted as part of the Regular Army in January 1907. Individual battalions have lineages which date back further. Currently, it is a parent regiment under the U.S. Army Regimental System, with a single ...
during the Battle of Cantigny, Battle of Soissons (1918), Battle of Soissons and Second Battle of the Marne. For his leadership, he was awarded with the Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army), Distinguished Service Medal and
Silver Star
The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an e ...
. He was also decorated with the
Croix de guerre with Guilt Star and
Fourragère by the government of
France.
Interwar service
After the war, upon his return from the European battlefield, Murray was reverted to the rank of major in the
Field Artillery
Field artillery is a category of mobile artillery used to support armies in the field. These weapons are specialized for mobility, tactical proficiency, short range, long range, and extremely long range target engagement.
Until the early 20t ...
and was put in command of the Artillery training center at
Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg is a military installation of the United States Army in North Carolina, and is one of the largest military installations in the world by population, with around 54,000 military personnel. The military reservation is located within Cum ...
,
North Carolina. Between 1919 and 1920, Murray took a special course at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology and after graduation, he was transferred to the Office of Chief of Field Artillery, under the command of Major General
William J. Snow
William J. Snow (December 16, 1868 – February 27, 1947) was a career officer in the United States Army. He attained the rank of major general, and served as the Chief of Field Artillery for seven years in the 1920s.
A native of Brooklyn, New Y ...
.
In 1924, Murray attended the
Field Artillery School at
Fort Sill
Fort Sill is a United States Army post north of Lawton, Oklahoma, about 85 miles (136.8 km) southwest of Oklahoma City. It covers almost .
The fort was first built during the Indian Wars. It is designated as a National Historic Landmark ...
,
Oklahoma
Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...
, where he earned more knowledges about Field Artillery. Subsequently, he attended the
Command and General Staff College at
Fort Leavenworth,
Kansas.
His next assignment was as an aide to
Governor-General of the Philippines,
Dwight F. Davis
Dwight Filley Davis Sr. (July 5, 1879 – November 28, 1945) was an American tennis player and politician. He is best remembered as the founder of the Davis Cup international tennis competition. He was the Assistant Secretary of War from 1923 to ...
from 1929 to 1932.
Subsequently, Murray was transferred back to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he was appointed a member of Field Artillery Board. In this capacity, Murray was promoted to the rank of colonel. In 1936, he was transferred to the
5th Field Artillery Regiment
The 5th Field Artillery Regiment was constituted as part of the Regular Army in January 1907. Individual battalions have lineages which date back further. Currently, it is a parent regiment under the U.S. Army Regimental System, with a single ...
, where he was appointed an executive officer of the unit and an commanding officer next year.
World War II
With the Japanese Attack on
attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Murray served as a commanding general of the
25th Infantry Division (former
Hawaiian Division). During his command, 25th Division performed intensive training due to its deployment in Pacific. He served in this capacity until the end of April 1942, when he was replaced by major general
J. Lawton Collins
General (United States), General Joseph Lawton Collins (May 1, 1896 – September 12, 1987) was a senior United States Army officer. During World War II, he served in both the Asiatic-Pacific Theater, Pacific and European Theater of Operations, U ...
. In addition, Murray was awarded with his first
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...
for his service as CG of
25th Infantry Division.
Major General Murray subsequently served as a commanding general of the
35th Infantry Division stationed at
Camp San Luis Obispo,
California. He was succeeded by Major General
Paul W. Baade
Major general (United States), Major General Paul William Baade (April 16, 1889 – October 9, 1959) was a highly decorated United States Army officer. The United States Military Academy (USMA) alumni and veteran of World War I, he is most noted ...
in January 1943 and transferred to
Pasadena
Pasadena ( ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. Old Pasadena is the city's original commercial district.
Its ...
, Southern California, where he commanded the local sector within
Western Defense Command under the command of general
John L. DeWitt. Murray also received an
Oak Leaf Cluster to the
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...
for his service in Western Defense Command.
In 1943, Major General Murray was transferred to the combat area in
New Caledonia
)
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, image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg
, map_alt = Location of New Caledonia
, map_caption = Location of New Caledonia
, mapsize = 290px
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in
Central Pacific area
Pacific Ocean Areas was a major Allied military command in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II. It was one of four major Allied commands during the Pacific War, and one of three United States commands in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater. Admi ...
, where he commanded the
Guadalcanal Island Forward Area. This command included the
Fiji Islands
Fiji ( , ,; fj, Viti, ; Fiji Hindi: फ़िजी, ''Fijī''), officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists ...
. For his service in this capacity, Murray was awarded with the Second
Oak Leaf Cluster to the
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...
.
In November 1945, Murray returned to the United States and was assigned to headquarters of the Army Ground Forces in
Washington, D.C. Murray finally retired from the Army on September 30, 1946.
Retirement
Major General Maxwell Murray died, due to a heart attack, on August 4, 1948, at the age of 63 years at his home in
Siasconset, Massachusetts
Siasconset is a census designated place (CDP) at the eastern end of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, United States with an elevation of 52 feet (16 m), and a population of 205 at the 2010 census. Although unincorporated, the village has ...
. He and his wife Phyllis Muriel Howard (1890–1976) with whom, he had a son Colonel Arthur Maxwell Murray (USMA, Class 1938) and a daughter, Ann Howard. He is buried together with his family at
Arlington National Cemetery in
Virginia.
Decorations
Here is the ribbon bar of Major General Maxwell Murray:
References
External links
ANC Explorer
{{DEFAULTSORT:Murray, Maxwell
1885 births
1948 deaths
Military personnel from New York (state)
United States Army Field Artillery Branch personnel
People from West Point, New York
Attack on Pearl Harbor
United States Army generals
United States Military Academy alumni
United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni
United States Army War College alumni
Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni
United States Army personnel of World War I
Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)
Recipients of the Silver Star
Recipients of the Legion of Merit
Honorary Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)
United States Army generals of World War II