MURRAY CHARLES M. MG USA (Ret.) Major General Charles M. Murray, was born in Laurel, Mississippi to the late Jack and Ada Murray on October 18, 1932, and passed away in Ft. Belvoir, Virginia on February 29, 2016. General Murray enlisted in the Army on May 31, 1950, shortly after graduation from Shelburn High School in Shelburn, Indiana. In 31 months, he rose from Private (E1) to Master Sergeant (E7), the senior enlisted grade available at that time. He served in the Korean War as a rifle platoon sergeant with the 45th Infantry Division. After the war, General Murray served as a company First Sergeant in Fort Dix, NJ and with the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii. General Murray graduated from Infantry Officers Candidate School as a Distinguished Graduate in December 1958. After normal infantry company grade assignments in the United States and Germany, he transferred to the Ordnance Corps in 1962. His command assignments included, the 512th Heavy Equipment Maintenance Company, Korea, the 703rd Maintenance Battalion, third Infantry Division, Germany, the Division Support Command, third Infantry Division, Germany and the 19th Support Command, Korea. His major staff assignments included, G-4, third Infantry Division, Germany, Director, Supply and Maintenance, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics, Department of the Army, and the Deputy Chief of Staff, Supply, Maintenance and Transportation, US Army Material Command. He also served as an ammunition staff officer in Vietnam. General Murray received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Educational Administration from the University of Omaha, and a Master of Science in Communications from Shippensburg State College. He was a graduate of the Ordnance Officers Advanced Course, the Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College. His awards and decorations include the Combat Infantry Badge, the Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Bronze Star Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Joint Services Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), and the National Medal of Military Merit from the Republic of Korea. He was a member of the Infantry and Ordnance Halls of Fame. General Murray is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Eileen Dugan Murray; children, Michael Higgs (Kathleen), Andrea Cruz (Frank) and Steven Murray (Sarah); grandchildren, Katie, Cameron, Caitlin, Kevin, Andrew and Colin; great-grandchildren, Savannah and Evan and siblings, Judy, Carol, Lillian, David and Wayne. Relatives and friends may call at JEFFERSON FUNERAL CHAPEL, 5755 Castlewellan Dr., Alexandria, VA on Friday, March 4, 2016, from 2-7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial at Ft. Myer Old Post Chapel with burial in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or the Alzheimer's Association. Send condolences post-gazette.com/gb