Marines & friends of Marines:
Attached is the obituary for Mrs. Gray, provided courtesy of Colonel H. C. “Barney” Barnum, (USMC Ret.), Medal of Honor (Vietnam). https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/jdnews/obituary.aspx?n=jan-gray&pid=195321274
If you look up the word “lady” in the dictionary, you’ll find a picture of Jan Gray. Having been in Mrs. Gray’s company many times (but, never enough it seems) , we were always struck by her grace, good humor and willingness to do whatever it took to make the lives of Marines, Sailors and their families a little bit better. She was unfailingly kind and generous to everyone that crossed her path. Despite her “rocky” start in life and on-going trials which never impeded her role in life, she made the General’s life easier, as he rose through the ranks of our Corps to become our 29th Commandant; and, after his retirement, was “the rock” that provided stability to his “second act”. While the General was and is a “Legend of the Marine Corps”, Jan was the unsung hero to both the General and the many of us that crossed her path over the past 40+ years. Truly, the “dash” between her dates of birth and death indicated a life well-lived.
Internment will be at a later date, in a very private ceremony, at Arlington National Cemetery where all our heroes lay for their final rest unto eternity.
Semper Fidelis,
Paul Sutton, former SSgt, USMC