Ross F. Gray

He crossed a minefield to silence six enemy gun emplacements

Ross Franklin Gray was born on 1 August 1920 in Alabama. After school he worked as a carpenter before joining the Marine Corps Reserve in July 1942. Training at Parris Island prepared him for service with Company A, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division. He fought through Pacific amphibious campaigns before reaching Iwo Jima in February 1945.

On 21 February 1945, Sergeant Gray's platoon was halted by a minefield covered by Japanese fortified positions. He volunteered to reduce the defences. Making repeated trips for demolition charges, he crawled and advanced under fire to attack the emplacements one by one. He destroyed six positions and removed mines, opening the route for his platoon.

Gray survived that action but was killed by enemy fire on 27 February, only six days later. President Harry Truman awarded him the Medal of Honor posthumously. Initially buried in the 4th Marine Division cemetery on Iwo Jima, his remains were later returned to Woodstock, Alabama.

Medal of Honor citation excerpt

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty”

Full official citation: https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/HD/Histories/MHC/Gray_R.F.pdf