Raymond Murray Major General Raymond Leroy Murray ( January 30 , 1913 – November 11 , 2004 ) was a highly decorated United States Marine Corps officer , who earned two Navy Cross es , one during World War II , and a second during the Korean War . He retired from active duty , August 1 , 1968 . As a Lieutenant Colonel on Saipan during World War II , General Murray was awarded his first Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism under fire , June 15 , 1944 , while commanding the 2nd Battalion 6th Marines , 2nd Marine Division . During the Korean War , he was twice again cited for extraordinary heroism , earning the Army Distinguished Service Cross during the period of November 29 to December 4 , 1950 , and a second Navy Cross on December 6 and 7 , 1950 , as commander of the 5th Marines , 1st Marine Division ( Reinforced ) . Marine Corps career . Early years . On July 9 , 1935 , following graduation from Texas A & M College , he accepted his commission as a Marine Second Lieutenant . After completing Basic School at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in March 1936 , Lieutenant Murray joined the 2nd Marine Brigade in San Diego , California . Embarking with the brigade for China in September 1937 , he served for a short time with the 2nd Battalion in Shanghai . In January 1938 , he joined the Marine Detachment at the American Embassy in Peiping . He was promoted to First Lieutenant in August 1938 . Upon his return to San Diego in September 1940 , he again saw duty with the 2nd Brigade . While there , he was promoted to Captain in March 1941 . That May , Captain Murray sailed for duty in Iceland with the Marines ( Reinforced ) , 1st Provisional Marine Brigade , and later graduated from the British Force Tactical School . After the brigade was disbanded , he returned to San Diego in April 1942 , and the following month was promoted to Major . World War II . In October 1942 , Major Murray embarked with the 6th Marines for the Pacific area . For conspicuous gallantry on Guadalcanal in January 1943 , as commander of the 2nd Battalion 6th Marines , he was awarded his first Silver Star . He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in June 1943 . Lieutenant Colonel Murray was awarded a second Silver Star Medal for conspicuous gallantry while commanding the same unit on Tarawa in November 1943 . Serving in this same capacity on Saipan , his heroism in remaining at his post although seriously wounded and continuing to direct his battalion during the initial assault , earned him his first Navy Cross on June 15 , 1944 . Returning to the United States in August 1944 , Lieutenant Colonel Murray entered the Command and Staff School at Quantico the following month . After brief duty as an instructor , he was named Assistant Chief of Staff , G - 3 , 1st Special Marine Brigade , moving with the brigade to Camp Lejeune , North Carolina , in February 1946 . In October 1946 , he departed for duty in the Pacific area as Deputy Chief of Staff , Headquarters Marine Garrison Forces , Pacific , and the following April was named Inspector of Marine Garrison Forces . He returned to Quantico in July 1948 for temporary duty on the Marine Corps Board at Marine Corps Schools . Transferred to Camp Pendleton , California in January 1949 , Lieutenant Colonel Murray served consecutively as Assistant Chief of Staff , G - 4 ; as Commanding Officer , 3rd Marine Regiment ; and as Executive Officer , 5th Marine Regiment , 1st Marine Division . Korean War . In July 1950 , when the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade was formed for duty in Korea , he was ordered overseas with the 5th Marine Regiment which was to be the nucleus for the brigade . As Commanding Officer , 5th Marines , he was awarded his third and fourth Silver Star Medal ( Army ) and the Legion of Merit during action in August and September 1950 . With his unit , he participated in the battles of the Naktong River perimeter , Wolmi - Inchon , Seoul , and Wonsan ; and in the Marine advance north toward the Yalu River . He was subsequently awarded the Army Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in the 1st Division ' s historic breakout from the Chosin Reservoir area to the sea at Hamhung , and two days later took part in the action which earned him his second Navy Cross . Shortly afterward , with his regiment committed to fighting on the Central Korean front , he was advanced to the rank of Colonel , in January 1951 . Post war years . Following his return from Korea , Colonel Murray served from May until August 1951 at Headquarters Marine Corps , Washington , D . C . , then entered the National War College . On completing the course in June 1952 , he saw two years duty as Commanding Officer , The Basic School , Marine Corps Schools , Quantico . In July 1954 , he was ordered to the Marine Corps Base , Camp Pendleton . Colonel Murray remained at Camp Pendleton four years , serving first as Commanding Officer , 1st Infantry Training Regiment , until February 1955 ; then as Chief of Staff of the Marine Corps Base , until July 1957 . During his final year there , he was assigned to the 1st Marine Division , serving as Division Inspector , Chief of Staff , and Assistant Chief of Staff , respectively . In July 1958 , he assumed duties as Chief of Staff , Marine Corps Base , Camp Lejeune . He was promoted to Brigadier General in June 1959 . General Murray departed for Okinawa , Japan in July 1959 , assuming duties as Assistant Division Commander , 3rd Marine Division , in August 1959 . In July 1960 , he reported to Camp Pendleton , as Deputy Base Commander , and subsequently , in March 1961 , became Commanding General of the Marine Corps Base , Camp Pendleton . He served in the latter capacity until June 1962 . On July 1 , 1962 , he began a two - year assignment as Commanding General , Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island . While serving in this capacity , he was promoted to Major General on February 1 , 1963 . Transferred to Headquarters Marine Corps in June 1964 , General Murray was assigned as Inspector General of the Marine Corps . In August 1966 , he assumed duties as Assistant Chief of Staff , C - 3 . Detached from Headquarters in September 1967 , he reported to the Far East the following month and began his last tour of active duty as Deputy Commander , III Marine Amphibious Force . He returned to the United States in February 1968 and entered the U . S . Naval Hospital at Bethesda , Maryland , where he remained until he retired from active duty , August l , 1968 . Murray died in 2004 . He was buried in Oceanside ' s Mission San Luis Rey Cemetery . Awards and honors . three Korean Presidential Unit Citations . In 2007 a continuation high school was named after him as Major General Raymond Murray High School . Citations . The citation accompanying his second Navy Cross reads in part :