Dick Gray
22 SEP 1931 - 1 NOV 1992
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I - 2
1st Row: Skip Macdonald - Harvill - Wray - Roades - Wallis - Meetze - Sims
2nd Row: Tom McCarthy - Bill Brown - Wells - Roth
3rd Row: Vanden Bosch - Schow - John T. Hamilton - Jeter - Walt Campbell
4th Row: Gray - Fralen - Donald - Fiscus
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Dick graduated high enough to enter the Corps of Engineers where he spent twenty productive years. We played Plebe Lacrosse together and became even greater friends at Camp Buckner where we double-dated" some ladies of doubtful antiquity." He always smilingly called me "Frenchy" - and made it feel like a compliment. DF Dick Fontaine January 8 - 2002 Dick Gray and I first met at Stewart Field in late 1950 at the Military Prep School - and right then began a friendship that did nothing but flourish across the years. To make it even more significant - we were both in the same Company - I-2 - and so I had the pleasure of Dick's humor - warmth and tremendous quiet humor across the many years. We were never roommates - but that made the times we shared - the trips and leaves more significant because we were always finding new things about each other in much more agreeable conditions. Dick went Army - I Air Force at graduation but we still maintained a healthy correspondence across the years. When Dick passed away I truly felt deprived. A superb human being had left us. Sleep well - old friend; Be Thou at Peace. Chuck Roades January 10 - 2002 Although Dick and I were acquaintances while cadets - we became good friends at the Engineer Officer Basic Course - and during several ensuing assignments together. He was an usher at our wedding - and we godparents to one of his children. Dick and Bev - Ruth and I became quite close; we frequently stayed in their home - and they in ours - always to great good times. Dick was an excellent poker hand - a great bridge partner - a terrible but serious golfer - and a great - good friend. I miss his wry - scathing humor and his wolfish grin. I can only say ... Well done - Dick - be thou at peace. Tom Horst June 9 - 2002 Richard Herbert (Dick) Gray was born on 22 September 1931 in Providence, Rhode Island, the son of Herbert B. Gray and Ethyl Wunch Gray. He graduated from the Classical High School in Providence. He served with the Rhode Island National Guard for two years. He was appointed to West Point through the National Guard and attended the West Point Prep School at Stewart Field in Newburgh, New York, prior to entering the Military Academy with the Class of 1955. While a cadet, Dick played on the lacrosse team, enjoyed many hours at the radio club, played on the chess team and with the golf club and sang in the protestant choir. He was always friendly, low key, calm and collected. He and his roommates cow year loved to play bridge and he was an avid reader of science fiction, especially Isaac Asimov. He graduated in 1955 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers. Dick married Beverly Price at Brooklyn, New York, on 27 December 1958. Bev had a daughter, Lee, from a previous marriage. A second daughter, Susan Beverly was born on 5 December 1959, in Ames, Iowa, while Dick was attending Iowa State University. He graduated from there with a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering in1960. Their third daughter, Elizabeth Ann, was born on 17 May 1961, when Dick was assigned to Fort Ord in California. Their first son, Jonathan Martin, was born on 7 July 1963 in Munich, West Germany. Their second son, Peter Alexander, was born on 11 August 1964 in Wuerzburg, West Germany. Their fourth daughter, Nancy Jane, was born on 8 March 1969 in Heidelberg, West Germany. The Grays had a total of 15 grandchildren. While assigned to the 82nd Engineer Battalion in '63-'65, Dick was awarded the Army Commendation Medal. In '65-'66 Dick was assigned to the U.S. Army Engineer District in Los Angeles. In his first tour in Vietnam in '67-'68, he was assigned to the U.S. Navy Facilities Engineer Command where he was PE 8 Log Comdit and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. In '68-'69 he was Executive Officer, Office of the Engineer, U.S. Army, Europe, where he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. He was also awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation of both the Army and the Navy. He attended the Army Command and General Staff College in 1970. In 1970 Dick returned to Vietnam where he was Commanding Officer of the 31st Engineer Battalion. For his performance he was awarded the Legion of Merit, a second Bronze Star Medal and an Air Medal. From '71 to '75 he was Chief of Project and Plans, Operations Group, and Deputy Secretary at the Army War College where he was awarded another Legion of Merit. On 7 May 1975 Dick retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He remained in the same city as Assistant Business Manager of the Dickinson School of Law. In 1980 he was appointed Director of Admissions and Finance as well as Treasurer of the school's Board of Trustees. While working he also earned an MBA at Shippensburg State College. He was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Society of American Military Engineers and was a registered professional engineer in both Iowa and Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and the Retired Officers Association. He was awarded membership in Who's Who Worldwide Organization for 1992. He died in Carlisle, Pennsylvania on 1 November 1992 and was buried at Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery at Exton, RI. His wife, Beverly, died on 9 May 2000 and was buried with Dick at the Veterans Cemetery. Stan Harvill, classmate Assembly, May/June 2005 |
USMA 1955 Roster
USMA 1955 Pictures