2LT.
WILLIAM GRAY ROSS
Born on Oct. 11, 1945
From BIG ROCK, TENNESSEE
Casualty was on June 15, 1968
in QUANG NAM, SOUTH VIETNAM
Panel 57W - - Line 31
William Gray Ross, USMC
2Lt. William Gray Ross served with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, India Company. He was Killed In Action during Operation MAMELUKE THRUST. His name stands proudly on the India 3/5 Wall of Honor. Semper fi, Brother Marine. We will never forget.
Brother Marine
Here is another brother that will not be forgotten by his brothers of India Company. I as company radioman had talked to you many times, Sir. You are a dear friend and brother of mine. Semper Fi! Marine. Guard those gates of heaven well for some day we will be together again. Terrapin India Out!
Jerry Bain
jkbain@yahoo.com
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Left:
Gray Ross at TBS Quantico, VA
Right: Gray at home before leaving for Vietnam
Picture Gray sent home to his Mother
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(Pictures courtesy of John Gundersen)
Firing a .50 caliber machine gun at Phu Gia Pass about 25 miles north
of Danang
Gray
and his radioman Albert Petersen
Picture courtesy of John Gundersen
Albert Petersen was KIA 21 May 68 along with 3 other Marines who were running patrol at the Thua Lu Bridge. John Gundersen (I/3/5) was wounded along with 9 other Marines.
He saved my life
I owe my life to Lt. Ross, literally. His leadership was one way, but sometime in about May of '68, we were on an operation in the same area where he died. It must have been 115 degrees in the shade. If you could find shade. The humidity was about 95 percent. I started getting really fuzzy in the head. We stopped for a 5 min. rest, and I didn't know where I was, or what I was doing. I laid down on my back, and was looking up at the sun. I felt so weak, and my face was twitching. Nothing made any sense. The platoon got up and moved out. I remained on my back, trying to figure out why I felt so funny.
I guess I was there for 5 minutes or so, and the platoon had gone on for some distance. Lt. Ross noticed that his platoon was short someone, and came back personally and found me laying there. I remember seeing his face coming between me and the sun. He smiled at me with that chiseled face of his and asked if I was coming with the rest of the platoon, or would I rather take a nap. It took some help from him, and all the strength I could muster up to get up and move.
I think that if he hadn't come back for me, I would have died from the sun, or been taken by the VC. Most officers didn't take their men to heart, as it supposedly inhibits their leadership ability, but it didn't seem to keep him from being an excellent leader. Probably my favorite in all the Corps. As it was, I had heat stroke, and was medivaced to DaNang for treatment. I was there about 2 days, and sent back to the platoon.
The day Lt. Ross died, I was in the hospital at Cam Rahn Bay. I was there for 2 weeks. One of the other men was sent there for wounds, and told me about that day. I was really depressed. You might say my world was shaken.
Looking back at that day, whether it was from the heat or true, I can't imagine the platoon walking off and leaving me there, but that is the way it seemed to me at the time. I will always remember Lt. Ross as the picture postcard Marine. I will never forget him. I made a trip to see his family in Bumpus Mills on the Tennessee, Kentucky border in 1986. They are such sweet people. I can see more now why the Lt. was the kind of man he was. ~John Gundersen (Gunny)
Gray Ross (right) with India Company 3/5 Marines
Gray's hootch
The following is a poem Gray sent home to his family from Vietnam Here
I Am But
the reason for this I need not ask why, I
gazed upon their faces, there lay a tear, I
boarded my flight, and left the ground. In
a matter if time, I began to fly, After
so many hours, I was able to see, As
I walked off the plane, I looked around, I
continued to walk, for I have begun my tour, When
I began to realize, and well understand, I
often walk the streets of Qui Nhon, And
from what I have seen, I can gracefully say, I
am a soldier, (Marine), but to them a king, To
do their fighting, through the guidance of thee, So
many mountains of beauty and size. For
now they await the darkness of night, In
a matter of days my time will come, For
then I will know that I have served my year, After
I have served in this war of strife, And
all the time I will pray for these men, |
William Gray Ross
To my lionheart-- always a hero
I was only a girlfriend, but while I knew you, you were a gentleman in all scores. I'm very proud I knew you and know you went to fight a war no one wanted to be in, but you did your best. I loved you then ,and still have a special place in my heart. You asked me not to wait, for you knew what was to be, you sacrificed it all. Thanks for a love that has lasted forever. Still in my heart, Betty Bowen (Gentry)
Gray
and Betty
May 1967
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Betty
Bowen and 2Lt. Ross's sister, Datha Corbett
May 2002
3rd Battalion, 5th Marines Reunion
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Betty and 2Lt. Ross's sister, Datha Corbett visited with India 3/5 Marines who served with 2Lt. Ross
With Betty and Datha: Ted Duckworth, Eddie Garcia, Kay Groves, John Gunderson, Mark Rader, Larry Vaught.
