Students Honor Korean War Veteran

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — Hampton Bays students continued to honor local veterans.

As they do each month of the school year, this month, the Hampton Bays School District honored Robert T. Murray, a Korean War veteran, by flying a flag in his honor.

“The district is proud to honor Mr. Murray for his bravery and service to the United States,” said Superintendent of Schools Lars Clemensen in a release.

Murray, 40, of Hampton Bays, was honored at an annual Veterans Day breakfast and ceremony held Thursday at Hampton Bays Elementary School; fourth- and fifth-grade students read his biography, spoke about the importance of Veterans Day and sang the songs of the U.S. Armed Forces’ five branches.

The event culminated with a breakfast for local veterans in attendance and the raising of Murray’s flag.

According to the district, Murray was born in the Bronx, where he attended St. Augustine's Elementary School and La Salle Academy. In 1951, he was drafted into the Army and assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. At Fort Bragg, he was trained and jump-qualified in parachuting. He completed 15 jumps in two years.

Murray stayed at Fort Bragg while his fellow soldiers were assigned to Germany. He said he forgot to step back when the others did, thereby missing the assignment in Germany, the release said.

At Fort Bragg, he served as a radioman, carrying the radio and making calls for the platoon leader or the company commander. One of the most interesting experiences Mr. Murray had, he said, was while at Fort Bragg, driving in a convoy from Lometa, Texas, near Fort Hood in Kileen, Texas, to then-Camp Drum near Watertown, New York.

He drove a captain who said he wanted a sergeant as a driver; Murray's biggest mistake was not suggesting to the captain that he be promoted to sergeant, he told the students.

After he returned to Fort Bragg, a general, wanting to fly, asked if there were any soldiers from New York, he said.

Murray responded and was presented with an opportunity to fly to Mitchel Field, near Roosevelt Mall, on Long Island. Because of the general's generosity, Mr. Murray was able to see his fiancé, he said.

He was soon offered a promotion to sergeant if he would re-enlist, but he declined, returned to New York and married Catherine Bianchini in 1953, he said. They lived in the Bronx before moving to New Hyde Park where they raised three children: Marianne, Karen and Stephen. Today, they are the proud grandparents of six grandchildren, four of whom are college graduates.

After Murray left the Army, he worked for Tip Top Bakery and Wonder Bread for 40 years; he purchased a summer home in Hampton Bays in 1975 and after his retirement, he and his wife moved to Hampton Bays and bought a winter home in Florida, the release said. He now spends his time between Florida and Hampton Bays, pursuing the love of his life — after his wife — golf, he told the kids.

Photo courtesy of the Hampton Bays School District.