Marine Corps
GalleryGen. Alfred Gray, 29th commandant of the Corps, buried with full military honors at Arlington Cemetery
Stars and Stripes
July 30, 2024
Marines from the Marine Band “The President’s Own” and the Marine Barracks Washington conduct military funeral honors with funeral escort for retired Gen. Alfred Gray Jr., the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps, in Section 35 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., July 29, 2024. (Elizabeth Fraser/Arlington National Cemetery)
Retired Marine Corps Gen. Gen. Alfred Gray Jr., the 29th commandant of the Corps, was laid to rest with full military honors Monday at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.
Gray died March 20 at 95.
Gray, from Point Pleasant Beach, N.J., enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1950 and commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1952, according to his official biography. He served a tour as an artillery officer with the 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines, and a subsequent tour as an infantry officer with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines.
Gen. Eric Smith, 39th Commandant of the Marine Corps, attends the funeral service for retired Gen. Alfred Gray Jr., the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps, in Section 35 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., July 29, 2024. “He was a ‘Marine’s Marine’ — a giant who walked among us during his career and after, remaining one of the Corps’ dearest friends and advocates even into his twilight,” Smith said in March when Gray died. “Although he will be missed by all, his legacy will endure and his spirit will continue to live among us.” (Elizabeth Fraser/Arlington National Cemetery)
U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sgt. Stacie Crowther presents the shell casing from the funeral firing party to U.S. Marine Corps retired Lt. Gen. George Flynn following the funeral service for retired Gen. Alfred Gray Jr. at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., July 29, 2024. Gray was interred that day with his wife, Janie Ann Gray. Flynn received the U.S. flag as Gray and his wife had no surviving family. (Elizabeth Fraser/Arlington National Cemetery)
Gen. Al Gray, the 29th commandant of the Marine Corps, died Wednesday at 95. During his time as commandant, he oversaw changes including the establishment of the Marine Corps University and the publication of “Warfighting.” (U.S. Marine Corps)
Gray served for nearly three years in Vietnam before returning to Washington for duty in February 1968. Then-Maj. Gray received the Silver Star Medal for his actions on May 14, 1967, for rushing into a minefield to save an injured Marine, guiding medical attention to the Marine and administering first aid, according to his citation.
Gray was promoted to general and became commandant on July 1, 1987, and retired from the service on June 30, 1991. The general oversaw significant changes to the Marine Corps during his time, including the development and publication of Fleet Marine Force Manual 1, also known as “Warfighting.”
A flyover is conducted during the funeral service for retired Gen. Alfred Gray Jr., the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps, in Section 35 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., July 29, 2024. (Elizabeth Fraser/Arlington National Cemetery)
Marines from the Marine Band “The President’s Own” and the Marine Barracks Washington conduct military funeral honors with funeral escort for retired Gen. Alfred Gray Jr., the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps, in Section 35 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., July 29, 2024. (Elizabeth Fraser/Arlington National Cemetery)
21st Chaplain of the Marine Corps Chaplain (Rear Adm.) Carey Cash presides over the funeral for retired Gen. Alfred Gray Jr., the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps, in Section 35 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., July 29, 2024. (Elizabeth Fraser/Arlington National Cemetery)
A horse from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) supports military funeral honors with funeral escort for retired Gen. Alfred Gray Jr., the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps, in Section 35 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., July 29, 2024. (Elizabeth Fraser/Arlington National Cemetery)
Marines from the Marine Band “The President’s Own” and the Marine Barracks Washington conduct military funeral honors with funeral escort for retired Gen. Alfred Gray Jr., the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps, in Section 35 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., July 29, 2024. (Elizabeth Fraser/Arlington National Cemetery)
Gray also placed emphasis on large-scale operations in desert and cold-weather environments, as well as robust maritime special operations capabilities. His staunch advocacy for military education resulted in the establishment of Marine Corps University in August 1989 while he was commandant.
Gray was interred with his wife, Janie Ann Gray. As Gray and his wife had no surviving family, U.S. Marine Corps retired Lt. Gen. George Flynn received the U.S. flag from Gray’s funeral service.
A trumpeter from the Marine Band “The President’s Own” plays Taps during military funeral honors with funeral escort for retired Gen. Alfred Gray Jr., the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps, in Section 35 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., July 29, 2024. (Elizabeth Fraser/Arlington National Cemetery)
Marines from the Marine Band “The President’s Own” and Marine Barracks Washington conduct military funeral honors with funeral escort for retired Gen. Alfred Gray Jr., the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps, in Section 35 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., July 29, 2024. (Elizabeth Fraser/Arlington National Cemetery)
Marines from the Marine Band “The President’s Own” and Marine Barracks Washington conduct military funeral honors with funeral escort for retired Gen. Alfred Gray Jr., the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps, in Section 35 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., July 29, 2024. (Elizabeth Fraser/Arlington National Cemetery)
Marines from the Marine Band “The President’s Own” and Marine Barracks Washington conduct military funeral honors with funeral escort for retired Gen. Alfred Gray Jr., the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps, in Section 35 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., July 29, 2024. (Elizabeth Fraser/Arlington National Cemetery)
Office of Army Cemeteries and Army National Military Cemeteries Executive Director Karen Durham-Aguilera offers condolences to U.S. Marine Corps retired Lt. Gen. George Flynn following the funeral service for retired Gen. Alfred Gray Jr., the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps, at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., July 29, 2024. Gray was interred that day with his wife, Janie Ann Gray. Flynn received the U.S. flag as Gray and his wife had no surviving family. (Elizabeth Fraser/Arlington National Cemetery)
Marines from the Marine Band “The President’s Own” and Marine Barracks Washington conduct military funeral honors with funeral escort for retired Gen. Alfred Gray Jr., the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps, in Section 35 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., July 29, 2024. (Elizabeth Fraser/Arlington National Cemetery)