I worked for General Gray twice, once when he as a BGen was Head of the Development Center, MCDEC Quantico and I was the Branch Head of the SIGINT/EW Branch; and again, when he was CMC and I, CO of the Marine Support Battalion. At Quantico, I hated walking past his office - if he saw me, he would ask me in and then tell me the things I should be doing in SIGINT/EW. I felt like saying, "I know what to do General, now just let me go do it." But of course, I didn't do that. I also ran into him several times in Vietnam when he was CO of 1st Radio Battalion. A great Marine, respected by all and loved by many. May he Rest In Peace - Semper Fidelis, Sir.
After my retirement from the Marines, I worked for a defense contractor as head of a systems engineering department that was preparing a proposal for some full MILSPEC system. None of my engineers had been in the service, so they had no feel for many of the requirements of the system (why does the operator terminal have to be waterproof? Do the operators really sit in the rain?). I decided a good introduction would be to take a couple of senior engineers back to Quantico for one of the ‘Industry meets Marines’ conferences so they could see what fielded equipment looks like and talk with the users. General Gray was head of the Development Center at that time and gave one of his motivational speeches to the group of visitors including my engineers. It was so motivational that one of my senior engineers told me on the plane home that he was going to quit his job and join the Marines! I convinced him to discuss this with his wife before doing anything radical, which he did, and that ended his desire to be a Marine. I told this story to General Gray years later.
I first met General Gray over 50 years ago and have never met a finer human being or better Marine. A tremendous loss to the world and Marine Corps.
I was a young Lance Corporal with 1st Force Recon Company in 1991on Los Flores at Camp Pendelton. Walking back from lunch at the chowhall I see an entourage of Marines with a whole lot of shiny stuff on collars. As they were coming toward me on the same sidewalk I was on (and knowing 1st Sergeant's penchant for not walking on "their grass") I steeled myself and rendered my best boot camp salute. Gen Gray plowed that hand into my shoulder and yelled "How ya doing Marine!" as they walked past. I remember it like it was yesterday.
He gave us pride and we junior Marines seriously looked up to the man who started as we had.
In 30 years at State, including 2 years at OSD/DOD, I met a number of generals of various grades and a good number of 4 stars. I met more while working as a contractor SME at NTC and several JRTCs. General Gray was one of the reasons I suspect that a prior service supervisor complained that I was too relaxed in the presence of 4 stars. Partially, of course, this reflected a lifetime representing the senior Cabinet department, but it also came about because General Gray and several others made it clear that if you were squared away and knew your stuff there was nothing to worry about but doing your job.
I was a LCpl when he became Commandant. The tectonic cultural shift in the Corps during his four years was palpable. I attended formations where he re-enlisted administrators--on the spot--whose MOS was closed, on the condition they lat move to combat arms. He ushered out the careerists, and kept his senior officers on their toes, on behalf of the enlisted Marine and in the service of selfless leadership. He kept me in the Corps as I experienced this shift.
I was granted the honor of commanding 1st Radio Battalion 25 years later. I obtained his email and sent him an invitation to check in with his unit and the intelligence discipline that he fathered. He did check in, and frequently called to chat--to ask if we needed anything and how the LAV-EW's were doing on maintenance. His continued influence changed the battalion during that time and re-invigorated the warrior spirit among those Marines. And this LCpl got to speak to him on the phone and get to know him! What a gift.
Maybe the first time I've shed personal tears for the passing of a retired general. One of a kind. Rest well, warrior.
A Marine Corps hero who's leadership and understanding of our true "Corps" Values are SORELY missed. The current leadership should be ashamed of the direction that they are taking our Corps!!!!! May he rest in peace! God Bless him and God Bless the USMC.
General Gray was with us, and we are better now for his presence then. What a legacy, and to think he will be remembered with General LeJeune as a great educator. He will be very hard to replace. RIP, General Al Gray. Semper Fi!
I considered myself a Gray trained Marine. As the CO 4th MAB and as the CMC he was a role model, father figure, mentor and led us into mission orders, commander’s intent and maneuver warfare. He built on what Gen Wilson established at 29 Palms and Gen Barrow inculcated. His emphasis on professional reading reinforced what my seniors had insisted on since 1974 as he imposed it on the reluctant. His war fighting ethos spread from the fairly small number of practitioners to the entire Corps left to right, top to bottom. We appreciated his ability to cut through the fog, smoke screens and double speak to get to the heart of an issue. He had a remarkable ability to remember the names and faces of the dedicated and get the best out of the marginal performers. We will miss him. His influence lasted decades past his active duty time.
I am sadden to hear of General Gray's passing; he was a truly great man. I met him while serving with the Command Element of 4 MAB, under another great man, General Mundy. Both, men had a profound impact upon me as a new Gunny. General Gray was FMFLant at the time and he came aboard the USS Mt. Whitney for our float to Norway. I was hesitant to be around him because of his no nonsense demeanor. But that changed quickly, I found him to be more like a caring, senior, family-member. I remember, in Norway, the rest of the Command Element Officers were arriving and I was directed to have the junior enlisted unload the bus they were arriving in. When the bus arrived the enlisted ran out to the bus and the Officers were already walking to the building where they were to be billet. I was watching the junior enlist unload the luggage from the bus, and all of the sudden behind me came this loud voice; it was General Gray, telling the Officers to "unload your own damn luggage." I looked up and there on the steps was General Gray with his hands on his hips. Later, that evening I was taking message traffic up to the Comm Center, and I see someone coming out of their room dressed in cammie trousers, tennis shoes, and hoodie. My first reaction was what does this young Marine think he's doing, there's no liberty here. So, I said, "Marine where do you think you're going?" The Marine turned around and said, "It's OK, Gunny, I'm just going to have a look around." I then realized it was General Gray, so I gave my apology. I also drove for General Gray, in Norway, who saw a female hitchhiker up head, it was raining, and I heard the General say pull-over. I started to pull over, but the LtCol next to me motioned no, so following my last order first, I didn't pull over. What a great Marine!
Great man! Great General! Great human being! I loved Gen Gray’s no nonsense approach. He was a Marine that we could relate to.
I recently learned, at a small reunion of an 11 man Marine Corps Mobile Team (MTT) that deployed to Mauritania, West Africa in January of 1989, that if it wasn’t for the intervention of the CMC Gen. Gray, the MTT would have never gotten together and deployed. Gen. Gray was scheduled to appear as our guest of honor but had to back out at the last minute because he got stuck in the infamous I-95 traffic heading to Quantico.
This MTT was the first Marine Corps unit to deploy to West Africa. We trained what is now the Mauritanian Marine Corps. The MTT is the predecessor of the SPMAGTF that has deployed in recent years to the West African countries training various African militaries.
It was the vision of CMC Al Gray that was instrumental in forging close military to military relationships in the Sahel!
I had the distinct pleasure of meeting him at “Ducks” restaurant (his favorite place to eat whenever he visited Jacksonville, NC) in Oct of 2019. Gen. Gray was accompanied by SgtMaj Joe Houle (ret), Gen Gray took the time to speak with me and my two Marine brothers (all retired) as though we were his best friends!
Semper Fidelis!
May God rest his soul! He is missed already by many of us.
I worked for General Gray twice, once when he as a BGen was Head of the Development Center, MCDEC Quantico and I was the Branch Head of the SIGINT/EW Branch; and again, when he was CMC and I, CO of the Marine Support Battalion. At Quantico, I hated walking past his office - if he saw me, he would ask me in and then tell me the things I should be doing in SIGINT/EW. I felt like saying, "I know what to do General, now just let me go do it." But of course, I didn't do that. I also ran into him several times in Vietnam when he was CO of 1st Radio Battalion. A great Marine, respected by all and loved by many. May he Rest In Peace - Semper Fidelis, Sir.
After my retirement from the Marines, I worked for a defense contractor as head of a systems engineering department that was preparing a proposal for some full MILSPEC system. None of my engineers had been in the service, so they had no feel for many of the requirements of the system (why does the operator terminal have to be waterproof? Do the operators really sit in the rain?). I decided a good introduction would be to take a couple of senior engineers back to Quantico for one of the ‘Industry meets Marines’ conferences so they could see what fielded equipment looks like and talk with the users. General Gray was head of the Development Center at that time and gave one of his motivational speeches to the group of visitors including my engineers. It was so motivational that one of my senior engineers told me on the plane home that he was going to quit his job and join the Marines! I convinced him to discuss this with his wife before doing anything radical, which he did, and that ended his desire to be a Marine. I told this story to General Gray years later.
I first met General Gray over 50 years ago and have never met a finer human being or better Marine. A tremendous loss to the world and Marine Corps.
I was a young Lance Corporal with 1st Force Recon Company in 1991on Los Flores at Camp Pendelton. Walking back from lunch at the chowhall I see an entourage of Marines with a whole lot of shiny stuff on collars. As they were coming toward me on the same sidewalk I was on (and knowing 1st Sergeant's penchant for not walking on "their grass") I steeled myself and rendered my best boot camp salute. Gen Gray plowed that hand into my shoulder and yelled "How ya doing Marine!" as they walked past. I remember it like it was yesterday.
He gave us pride and we junior Marines seriously looked up to the man who started as we had.
Semper Fi General. Until Valhalla.
In 30 years at State, including 2 years at OSD/DOD, I met a number of generals of various grades and a good number of 4 stars. I met more while working as a contractor SME at NTC and several JRTCs. General Gray was one of the reasons I suspect that a prior service supervisor complained that I was too relaxed in the presence of 4 stars. Partially, of course, this reflected a lifetime representing the senior Cabinet department, but it also came about because General Gray and several others made it clear that if you were squared away and knew your stuff there was nothing to worry about but doing your job.
I was a LCpl when he became Commandant. The tectonic cultural shift in the Corps during his four years was palpable. I attended formations where he re-enlisted administrators--on the spot--whose MOS was closed, on the condition they lat move to combat arms. He ushered out the careerists, and kept his senior officers on their toes, on behalf of the enlisted Marine and in the service of selfless leadership. He kept me in the Corps as I experienced this shift.
I was granted the honor of commanding 1st Radio Battalion 25 years later. I obtained his email and sent him an invitation to check in with his unit and the intelligence discipline that he fathered. He did check in, and frequently called to chat--to ask if we needed anything and how the LAV-EW's were doing on maintenance. His continued influence changed the battalion during that time and re-invigorated the warrior spirit among those Marines. And this LCpl got to speak to him on the phone and get to know him! What a gift.
Maybe the first time I've shed personal tears for the passing of a retired general. One of a kind. Rest well, warrior.
MCU was his. Education of all Marines was his goal. Great Marine!
A Marine Corps hero who's leadership and understanding of our true "Corps" Values are SORELY missed. The current leadership should be ashamed of the direction that they are taking our Corps!!!!! May he rest in peace! God Bless him and God Bless the USMC.
General Gray was with us, and we are better now for his presence then. What a legacy, and to think he will be remembered with General LeJeune as a great educator. He will be very hard to replace. RIP, General Al Gray. Semper Fi!
I considered myself a Gray trained Marine. As the CO 4th MAB and as the CMC he was a role model, father figure, mentor and led us into mission orders, commander’s intent and maneuver warfare. He built on what Gen Wilson established at 29 Palms and Gen Barrow inculcated. His emphasis on professional reading reinforced what my seniors had insisted on since 1974 as he imposed it on the reluctant. His war fighting ethos spread from the fairly small number of practitioners to the entire Corps left to right, top to bottom. We appreciated his ability to cut through the fog, smoke screens and double speak to get to the heart of an issue. He had a remarkable ability to remember the names and faces of the dedicated and get the best out of the marginal performers. We will miss him. His influence lasted decades past his active duty time.
There are great men and on an exceedingly rare occasion there are even greater Marines; so was General Gray. Sir, RIP. Semper fi, GI Wilson
St. Peter better be ready for a quick punch to the shoulder when Big Al reports in at the front gate!
I am sadden to hear of General Gray's passing; he was a truly great man. I met him while serving with the Command Element of 4 MAB, under another great man, General Mundy. Both, men had a profound impact upon me as a new Gunny. General Gray was FMFLant at the time and he came aboard the USS Mt. Whitney for our float to Norway. I was hesitant to be around him because of his no nonsense demeanor. But that changed quickly, I found him to be more like a caring, senior, family-member. I remember, in Norway, the rest of the Command Element Officers were arriving and I was directed to have the junior enlisted unload the bus they were arriving in. When the bus arrived the enlisted ran out to the bus and the Officers were already walking to the building where they were to be billet. I was watching the junior enlist unload the luggage from the bus, and all of the sudden behind me came this loud voice; it was General Gray, telling the Officers to "unload your own damn luggage." I looked up and there on the steps was General Gray with his hands on his hips. Later, that evening I was taking message traffic up to the Comm Center, and I see someone coming out of their room dressed in cammie trousers, tennis shoes, and hoodie. My first reaction was what does this young Marine think he's doing, there's no liberty here. So, I said, "Marine where do you think you're going?" The Marine turned around and said, "It's OK, Gunny, I'm just going to have a look around." I then realized it was General Gray, so I gave my apology. I also drove for General Gray, in Norway, who saw a female hitchhiker up head, it was raining, and I heard the General say pull-over. I started to pull over, but the LtCol next to me motioned no, so following my last order first, I didn't pull over. What a great Marine!
Great man! Great General! Great human being! I loved Gen Gray’s no nonsense approach. He was a Marine that we could relate to.
I recently learned, at a small reunion of an 11 man Marine Corps Mobile Team (MTT) that deployed to Mauritania, West Africa in January of 1989, that if it wasn’t for the intervention of the CMC Gen. Gray, the MTT would have never gotten together and deployed. Gen. Gray was scheduled to appear as our guest of honor but had to back out at the last minute because he got stuck in the infamous I-95 traffic heading to Quantico.
This MTT was the first Marine Corps unit to deploy to West Africa. We trained what is now the Mauritanian Marine Corps. The MTT is the predecessor of the SPMAGTF that has deployed in recent years to the West African countries training various African militaries.
It was the vision of CMC Al Gray that was instrumental in forging close military to military relationships in the Sahel!
I had the distinct pleasure of meeting him at “Ducks” restaurant (his favorite place to eat whenever he visited Jacksonville, NC) in Oct of 2019. Gen. Gray was accompanied by SgtMaj Joe Houle (ret), Gen Gray took the time to speak with me and my two Marine brothers (all retired) as though we were his best friends!
Semper Fidelis!
May God rest his soul! He is missed already by many of us.