CAPTAIN JOHN D. MURRAY, for extraordinary heroism as the Commanding Officer, Company M, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced) in the Quang Tin Province, Republic of Vietnam. On 4 September 1967 during Operation SWIFT Captain (then First Lieutenant) Murray’s company was moving to reinforce elements of the First Battalion when the lead platoon suddenly came under heavy small-arms and automatic weapons fire and mortar attack from a numerically superior and well-entrenched North Vietnamese Army force. Immediately assessing the situation, he deployed a reinforcing platoon forward, exposing himself so as to observe and control the fire and movement of all elements of his company. When the commander and key noncommissioned officers of the lead platoon became casualties, he quickly reorganized the unit, establishing strong defensive positions. Skillfully calling in close air support and accurate mortar and artillery fire, he forced the North Vietnamese to withdraw and launched an aggressive attack which took their positions. After recovering all the casualties, he arranged for their evacuation and consolidated his company positions into a night defensive perimeter. On the nights of 6 and 10 September 1967 when companies of his battalion were surrounded and heavily engaged with the North Vietnamese, Captain Murray skillfully led his company to relieve the beleagured companies. As a result of his bold initiative and aggressive fighting spirit, he undoubtedly saved many Marines from further injury, capture or possible death. By his superior professional skill, courageous leadership and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Captain Murray was instrumental in the accomplishment of the hazardous missions and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
THE ACTION IN JACK MURRAY’S OWN WORDS:
“I would be in remiss if I did not say that the battle scenario of the first day of Swift for M Co 3rd Battalion 5th Marines (M Co 3/5) has been exhaustively detailed in Doyle Glass’s book titled SWIFT SWORD. The book was developed through hundreds of interviews with survivors over an eight year period including a trip back to the battle site and interviews with the historian of the 2nd NVA Division. The book is as close to the truth as possible.
In the early fall of 1967, deep in the heart of Vietnam’s Queson Valley, the 6500 men of the 2nd North Vietnamese Army Division put into operation an ambitious plan to attack all Marine forces in the area at one time. The 5th Marine Regiment, with only two of its battalions holding key positions in the valley, did not have sufficient strength to take on the entire division. In the early hours of 4 Sept 1967, the 2nd NVA Division launched their attack, nearly annihilating an understrength Marine Company. When another Marine company came to assist, both companies became surrounded by the NVA. The last two available Marine Companies in the valley were ordered to attack and break through the NVA forces and assist the encircled Marines. Due to lack of helicopters, only one company could immediately move into the battle area. Company M 3/5 was the last company to land by helicopter some 2000 meters from the surrounded Marines. I was CO of M Co and, once we landed we moved as fast as tactically possible to reach the battle area. As we advanced alone, two NVA Battalions ambushed my company and for the next 6 hours we fought hand to hand with the NVA as their advancing infantry surrounded my company.
The company was spread out some 200 meters front to back and 50 meters on flanks when we were assaulted. We were now isolated from all other units and fighting for our lives. The NVA assaulting infantry came in camouflaged waves from the North and I immediately ordered a platoon to send several squads directly into the main enemy attack. The noise was overwhelming: mortars pounded our position, machinegun and rifle fire both incoming and outgoing were chattering, grenades and RPGs exploded intermixed with cries of the wounded. The 1st platoon commander was put out of action and I was not sure of the lay of the land. I had no contact with his platoon sergeant so I sprinted from my CP crater some 100 yards to his platoon sergeant’s position. I then began to understand our position. At the same time it was a major mistake for me to risk taking a chance when I was the only person who had knowledge of the battle.
For the next 4 hours we clashed with the NVA artillery and close air support was called within 100 meters of my company and after CS gas was dropped right on top of our position the NVA finally broke off their attack. It was later discovered through a captured NVA soldier, that the NVA believed if we used gas it was poisonous and that they should stop and leave the battle area until the gas dissipates.
As dusk arrived, we began recovery of our wounded and KIAs beyond our current defensive positions. A Marine came to the Company CP crater and said our Battalion Chaplain was killed. I was in shock. The Chaplain must have jumped on the last helicopter out of our base LZ without the permission of the Battalion Commander. I did not know he was with us. I believe the Chaplain knew we were going to land with another Battalion command group (the battalion he had just been assigned to the month before) and he thought it would be safe. Unfortunately, we were ambushed before we could join up with that battalion command group.
That evening I made another serious error by checking the lines and trying to keep the morale of the troops up after such a violent battle. As I went from one position to another, I talked to the troops and asked each to tell me where the next position was located. One Marine did not know where the closest position was located. I wondered off and quickly found myself outside our position and in deep trouble. I quietly called out in a loud voice this is Lt Murray and I am coming into the perimeter. So much for quiet discipline! And yes, I was very scared. That afternoon there were two Medal of Honor awardees in my company. Sergeant Larry Peters and Father Vincent Capodanno, the 3/5 Battalion Chaplain. This battle was an example of how awards are truly misleading. Each person on this battlefield saw the fighting from their own perspective and each played an important role in the outcome. Sixteen were killed that day and over 80 were wounded from my company of about 165 Marines and Sailors. Many heroic acts occurred but went unseen or recorded. Quintus Horatius Flaccus (Horace) 65BC-27BC said it best: Many heroes lived…but all are unknown and unswept, extinguished in everlasting night, because they have no spirited chronicler.”
MORE ABOUT JACK MURRAY NC
Jack’s Military Assignments: 3rd Bn 5th Marines Instructor, The Basic School, Quantico Amphibious Warfare School Advisor, S. Vietnamese Marine Corps Marine Security Guard School Washington DC, Instructor, Amphibious School, Little Creek VA Joint Command School Norfolk, NATO Forces Palestine 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade Okinawa Fleet Marine Force Planner AFNORTH Norfolk, Retired.
Jack Murray NC served as the Legion of Valor National Commander 2021-2022.
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