David Warren Gray was born in Evansville, Ind., March 1, 1911. He attended Purdue University for one year then entered the United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., in 1929. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant following graduation in 1933. He was assigned infantry company duty for thirty-six months and then attended the Infantry School's Advanced Officers Course (1936-37) and the Tank School's Regular Course (1937-38) at Fort Benning, Ga. He was an instructor at the USMA at the outbreak of World War II.
World War II
In 1944 Gray completed both the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and the Army and Navy Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia. At war's end, he was Assistant G-3, Sixth Army, in the Philippines and was in charge of amphibious planning for the invasion of Kyushu, Japan, which would have been the largest amphibious operation ever undertaken.
Post World War II
After the war, Gray served as Director of Training, 24th Infantry Division, in Japan. In May 1946 he was assigned to the 8th Army as Army Exchange Depot Commander. Returning from Japan in 1947, he spent the next five years teaching and attending school. From 1947 to 1951, he was associate professor of Graphics at the U.S. Military Academy, and, in 1952, graduated from the Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, and The Infantry School (basic airborne course), Fort Benning, Georgia.
Korean War
Colonel Gray next went to Korea, serving as Operations Officer, G3 Section, Eighth Army; Commander, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division; and the Assistant Chief of Staff, G3, X Corps during the Korean Conflict.
Pentagon Postings (Department of the Army)
- Chief, International Branch, Plans Division
- Deputy Chief, Plans Division
- Assistant Executive, Office of Assistant Chief of Staff
- Chief Operations, Office of Assistant Chief of Staff
- Director, Operations Directorate
In 1957 he went to Germany where he served as assistant commander of the 1lth Airborne Division until its inactivation in July 1958. Thereafter he became assistant commander of the 24th Infantry Division. During the Lebanon Crisis of 1958, General Gray was brigade com-mander (24th Airborne) of an Army task force which was dispatched to Beirut. For his action there he received a second Oak Leaf Cluster to his Legion of Merit.
When the 8th Infantry Division gained an airborne capability in February 1959, General Gray became its assistant division commander and, in July 1959, was made Chief of Staff, V Corps. General Gray returned from Germany and became Chief, Subsidiary Activities Division, J-5, Joint Chiefs of Staff in July 1960. In July 1961 he was reassigned as Army Member of the Joint Strategic Survey Council.
Departing the U.S. on August 28, 1963, General Gray returned to Korea where he assumed command of the 7th Infantry Division.
General Gray became Deputy Chief of Staff for Unit Training and Readiness, Headquarters, United States Continental Army Command at Fort Monroe, Virginia, in October 1964 and on April 1, 1966 he became U.S. Continental Army Command's Chief of Staff.
Artifacts: Late 50s/Early 60s MG Fatigue Shirt.
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The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Major General David Warren Gray (ASN: 0-18988), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility, during the period from November 1958 through July 1968.
President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Colonel (Infantry) David Warren Gray (ASN: 0-18988), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in connection with military operations against the enemy as Commanding Officer, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy in Korea in 1951. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Colonel (Infantry) David Warren Gray (ASN: 0-18988), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, in Korea, from 1952 to 1953. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Colonel Gray and his dedicated contributions in the service of his country reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Army.
Colonel (Infantry) David Warren Gray (ASN: 0-18988), United States Army, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States with Headquarters, TENTH Corps, in Korea, from 1953 to 1954.
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Legion of Merit to Brigadier General David Warren Gray (ASN: 0-18988), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding General, 24th Armored Brigade, in Lebanon, from 15 July 1958 to 15 October 1958.
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