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Olin M. Gray, age 89, of Godfrey, passed away Sunday, November 3, 2013, at Alton Memorial Hospital. He was born March 8, 1924, in Fairfield, IL, the son of Otto and Winnie (Wreath) Gray. He was a Raider in the U.S. Marine Corps, and received the Distinguished Service Cross. Olin then became a carpenter with the Union Local 377 for over 40 years. He married Sybil Noll on February 1991 in Chatham, IL, and she survives. Mr. Gray was a member of VFW Post #1308. In addition to his wife, Sybil; he is also survived by his first wife, Marlene and their children: a daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and Allen Radcliff of Greenfield; three sons and two daughters-in-law, David and Ruth Gray of Fountain Hills, AZ, Jeffrey and Gail Gray of Alton, and James Gray of Nashville, TN; eight grandchildren, Jennifer Funk, Monica Hoxsie, Tony Radcliff, Justin, Ashton, Ryan, Katie, and Michael Gray; eight great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; five step-children; step-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Norma Jean Koertge; and a son, Bruce Gray. A visitation will be held Saturday, November 16, 2013 at 1:00 pm, at Elias Kallal and Schaaf Funeral Home in Godfrey. Pastor Matthew Prince will officiate. Military burial rites will be provided by the Alton VFW Post #1308. A private family burial will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Alton Memorial Hospital Hospice or to St. Anthonyâ??s Hospital Hospice.
Other Comments:
GRAY, OLIN M. Citation:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Olin M. Gray (458574), Private, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company Q, FOURTH Marine Raider Battalion, in the early part of the engagement at Bairoko Harbor, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, on 20 July 1943. After all the other men in his machine-gun squad had been either killed or wounded, Private Gray, on his own initiative, took over the gun and manned it single-handedly with spectacular daring and zeal during the entire action. He repeatedly exposed himself purposely to the Japanese and boldly invited fire so that their gun positions would be divulged. These challenging tactics netted him the discovery and destruction of two enemy machine-gun nests. During a withdrawal, he covered the rear elements of his company and was the last man to leave the area. His aggressive, fearless conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the service and contributed greatly to the success of his company's share in the action. The outstanding heroism and skill displayed by Private Gray on this occasion reflect highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.
Northern Solomon Islands Campaign (1943-44)/New Georgia Group Operation
From Month/Year
June / 1943
To Month/Year
October / 1943
Description This operation was fought during the Pacific war on this group of islands situated in the central Solomons. US forces invaded them as part of an American offensive (CARTWHEEL) to isolate and neutralize Rabaul, the main Japanese base in their South-East Area.
On 20 June 1943 a Raider battalion (, 5(f)) landed at Segi Point on the main island, New Georgia, and during the next two weeks there were other landings by US Marines and 43rd US Division on Rendova and Vangunu islands, and on western New Georgia, to seize a Japanese airstrip at Munda point. Despite the US Navy's intervention, which resulted in the battles of Kula Gulf and Kolombangara, 4,000 reinforcements were successfully dispatched to the commander of the 10,500-strong Japanese garrison, Maj-General Sasaki Noboru. Most reinforced Munda, which became the focus of Japanese resistance, and their night infiltration tactics unnerved the inexperienced US troops. Non-battle casualties, caused by exhaustion and ‘war neuroses’, increased alarmingly, and when the commander of 14th Corps, Maj-General Oscar Griswold, arrived on 11 July he reported the division was ‘about to fold up’. The 37th US Division was brought in, Griswold replaced the worst affected units, and he then launched a corps attack on 25 July. Fierce fighting followed but by 1August the Japanese, outnumbered and outgunned, had withdrawn inland. This time US Navy destroyers prevented more reinforcements reaching them when, on the night of 6/7August, they sank three Japanese transports (battle of Vella Gulf).
Munda now became the base of Marine Corps squadrons which supported landings on Vella Lavella on 15 August. These bypassed and isolated Sasaki's garrison now gathering on Kolombangara after further US reinforcements, elements of 25th US Division, had failed to destroy them on New Georgia. On 15 September Sasaki was ordered to withdraw. In a brilliantly organized evacuation 9,400 men out of the 12,500 on Kolombangara were rescued by landing craft, and the following month those on Vella Lavella were also evacuated.
The campaign proved costly for the Americans who had 1,094 killed and 3,873 wounded with thousands more becoming non-battle casualties. Excluding the fighting on Vella Lavella, 2,483 Japanese bodies were counted. Planned as a one-division operation, the Japanese garrison's ‘skill, tenacity, and valor’—to quote the campaign's official US historian—eventually made it one where elements of four had to be used. ‘The obstinate General Sasaki,’ the same historian concludes, ‘deserved his country's gratitude for his gallant and able conduct.’