WILLIAM FLETCHER MCMURRY III, First Lieutenant, United States Air Force. There was something magnetic about this man. His class Howitzer describes him as a true Southern gentleman whose interests were many and varied. But there was more. His love of life, his sparkle, his good nature, his generosity; his humaneness, his compassion-these made him respected, admired, and loved by all who came in contact with him.

"Mac" was born on August 27, 1925, in Louisville, Kentucky, the son of William Fletcher, Jr. and Lucille Pelham McMurry. In 1926, when he and his twin brother; Wesley Pelham, were one year old, the family moved to Paducah, Kentucky. It was in that city of his beloved Kentucky that Mac attended grade school and high school. His early life in Paducah was that of a typical American boy. The McMurry family was close-knit and Mac engaged in school and community athletics, worked on his newspaper route, and did farm work in the summers. After two years at Western Military Academy at Alton, Illinois, Mac enlisted in 1943 in the Army Air Forces. He was in aviation cadet training when he was awarded an appointment to West Point by the Honorable Noble Gregory of the First Congressional District of Kentucky. He attended the USMA Preparatory School at Amherst College and at Fort Benning for several months before joining the Class of 1949 at West Point in July 1945.

While he was a cadet his approach to cadet life was balanced and mature. The work came hard but he enjoyed it and he was a conscientious student, serious about his studies. At the same tim
he was further developing an easy-going and amiable personality. He loved life and thoroughly enjoyed contributing to the happiness of others. During free time, when when he was not helping his roommates with academics or golf, he leaned toward outdoor activities such as fishing, hunting, skeet and pistol shooting. Mac's life was inextricably linked to the influence of his two fine roommates. Toward the end of his cadet career he met Miss Linda Bryan Marslender, the sister of his roommate, William Henry Marslender, and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Marslender of Washington, North Carolina.

At graduation he was commissioned in the United States Air Force and on June 8, 1949, in the West Point Chapel, Mac and Linda were married. Following a honeymoon in Canada and New England, Mac and Linda set up their first home in San Angelo, Texas, where Mac successfully competed basic pilot training at Goodfellow Air Force Base. Their home in San Angelo was always open to fellow student officers and air cadets and it
was the scene of many wonderful get-togethers. Mac and Linda thrived on friends and they certainly had many about and bothering them during,, this time. A highlight of gatherings at Mac and Linda's Grill" was Mac's reading of the exploits of his Great Uncle John Pelham, a famous major of Confederate Cavalry who "rode into his last battle mounted on a black charger."

Advanced Pilot Training at Vance Air Force Base, Enid, Oklahoma, followed and upon receiving his pilot wings in August, 1950, Mac was assigned to the 3075th Ferry Squadron at Tinker Air Force Base. While they were there, Mac and Linda had their first child, a boy named William Roger in memory of Roger Kulhman, Mac's other roommate at West Point, who was killed in action in Korea in 1950. In June and July 1951, Mac attended the Squadron Officer Course at Maxwell Air Force Base and in the winter of 1951 and 1952 he went through the B-26 Combat Crew Training Course at Langley Air Force Base. They became the proud parents of a second son, Fletcher, in 1952.

Mac and Linda's life together was supremely happy and their personalities and attitudes were complementary., They
were sincerely interested in others, were generous with their hospitality, and were dedicated to the service and happy liv-ing. Mac joined the 8th Bomb Squadron of the 3rd Bomb Wing in March of 1952 and was soon engaged in B-26 night interdiction attacks on Communist railroads and roads in North Korea. Late at night on April 19, 1952, shortly after taking off, his black B-26 aircraft, heavily loaded for combat, crashed and was swallowed up in the Yellow Sea.

Thus ended the career of a superior airman and officer, a beloved husband, a noble son, and devoted friend. He was held in esteem by all who knew him for his outstanding military record, his loyalty, his courage, and his inspiration. It is sad to lose a man whose love of life and high standards of duty and conduct were magnified by a warm personality, genial disposition, and genuine thoughtfulness for others. His family, friends, fellow officers, and classmates are proud that they had the privilege to know William Fletcher McMurry and to live and work with him.

-R.B.E.