Wilmington, NC, Heroes-- Part 1

From the Wilmington Star-News Dec. 23, 2009 MyReporter.

WILLIAM P. MURRAY, JR.

A Wilmington native drafted into the Army in 1942. 1st Lt. 3rd Infantry and leading a scout platoon and fought a larger German force near Kayserberg. Called in artillery strikes and attacked the enemy with a grenade launcher, a Browning Automatic Rifle and mortar. Was wounded, but continued fighting and received a Medal of Honor July 5, 1945. Wilmington's Murray Middle School is named after him.


WILLIAM DAVID HALYBURTON, JR.

A graduate of New Hanover High School in 1943 and enlisted in the US Navy and became a corpsman (medic) with the US Marines. Was killed in action at Okinawa while tending the wounded under heavy enemy fire and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Wilmington's Halyburton Park is named in his memory.

Heroes All. The Greatest Generation. --Cooter