Stuart S. Murray
Encyclopedia
Stuart Shadrick Murray (22 March 1898–19 September 1980) was a Vice Admiral
of the United States Navy
who served during World War II. Born in Delia, Texas he graduated from the United States Naval Academy
in 1919. In the 1920s, Murray was involved in constructing the submarine base at Pearl Harbor
.
Nicknamed "Sunshine" and "the Gentle Giant", Murray was a plankowner
aboard , placing her in commission on 15 August 1935.
As ComSubDiv 15, in October 1941, he was assigned to Manila
, home of the Asiatic Fleet. Along with Joseph Connolly's SubDiv 16, Murray's division
made up Submarine Squadron 2 (SubRon2), under ComSubAsia Captain Walter Doyle (nicknamed "Red") in , who answered to Admiral Thomas C. Hart
. They comprised the entirety of the brand-new Salmon
class.
When the Japanese attacked the Philippines, Wilkes (who ended up being "special adviser" to Doyle, who had no experience in Asia), his chief of staff, Jimmy Fife
, and Murray warned their skippers to be cautious. The initial plan, to rely on information from General Lewis Brereton
's B-17s, went to pieces the first day, when General MacArthur
failed to preserve them from Japanese attack. Murray was not aided by the abysmal performance of the Mark 14 torpedo
, either.
On Christmas Day 1941, Murray moved into quarters in the tunnels of Corregidor
with all of ComSubAsia's top staff (him, Fife, Wilkes, and Doyle, everyone who had not fled with and equipment (one typewriter and a radio receiver). As the defeat became evident, Wilkes ordered all submarine crewmen out; on 1 January 1942, Murray boarded Chet Smith's with Wilkes and others, to join Hart in Soerabaja.
After fleeing the Philippines, Hart pulled Murray's boats back to Fremantle
(in keeping with Navy Department instructions), where Murray came under the command of his old boss from SubDiv 13 Charles Lockwood's Task Force 51, becoming chief of staff of SubRon 2, under Jimmy Fife (also one of Lockwood's old Division 13 skippers).
With the death of Robert H. English
, Lockwood was named ComSubPac
in his stead, taking Murray as his Chief of Staff (replacing John Griggs), over the objections of "Chips" Carpender
, ComSubSoWestPac.
Near the end of 1943, Murray was named Commandant of Midshipmen at Annapolis
, rather than to a new submarine squadron, yet another example of a wasted submarine officer.
Murray took command of in May 1945, and was responsible for the preparations for the signing of the surrender
on 2 September 1945.
A large man who was a friend and classmate of the previous commanding officer, Captain William M. Callaghan
, Murray was well liked by his crew.
Murray was ComSubLant
from 1950 until 1952 and retired a three-star in 1956 after serving as Naval Inspector General
.
Vice admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, and the United States Maritime Service, vice admiral is a three-star flag officer, with the pay grade of...
of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
who served during World War II. Born in Delia, Texas he graduated from the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1919. In the 1920s, Murray was involved in constructing the submarine base at Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
.
Nicknamed "Sunshine" and "the Gentle Giant", Murray was a plankowner
Plankowner
A plankowner is an individual who was a member of the crew of a ship when that ship was placed in commission. Originally, this term applied only to crew members that were present at the ship's first commissioning...
aboard , placing her in commission on 15 August 1935.
As ComSubDiv 15, in October 1941, he was assigned to Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, home of the Asiatic Fleet. Along with Joseph Connolly's SubDiv 16, Murray's division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
made up Submarine Squadron 2 (SubRon2), under ComSubAsia Captain Walter Doyle (nicknamed "Red") in , who answered to Admiral Thomas C. Hart
Thomas C. Hart
Thomas Charles Hart was an admiral of the United States Navy, whose service extended from the Spanish-American War through World War II. Following his retirement from the Navy, he served briefly as a United States Senator from Connecticut.-Life and career:Hart was born in Genesee County, Michigan...
. They comprised the entirety of the brand-new Salmon
Salmon class submarine
The United States Navy Salmon-class submarines were an important developmental step in the design of the "Fleet Submarine" concept during the 1930's...
class.
When the Japanese attacked the Philippines, Wilkes (who ended up being "special adviser" to Doyle, who had no experience in Asia), his chief of staff, Jimmy Fife
James Fife, Jr.
Admiral James Fife, Jr. was a United States Navy admiral who was promoted to four star rank after retirement as a "tombstone admiral".-Biography:...
, and Murray warned their skippers to be cautious. The initial plan, to rely on information from General Lewis Brereton
Lewis H. Brereton
Lewis Hyde Brereton was a military aviation pioneer and lieutenant general in the United States Air Force...
's B-17s, went to pieces the first day, when General MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
failed to preserve them from Japanese attack. Murray was not aided by the abysmal performance of the Mark 14 torpedo
Mark 14 torpedo
The Mark 14 torpedo was the United States Navy's standard submarine-launched anti-ship torpedo of World War II.This weapon was plagued with many problems which crippled its performance early in the war, and was supplemented by the Mark 18 electric torpedo in the last 2 years of the war...
, either.
On Christmas Day 1941, Murray moved into quarters in the tunnels of Corregidor
Corregidor
Corregidor Island, locally called Isla ng Corregidor, is a lofty island located at the entrance of Manila Bay in southwestern part of Luzon Island in the Philippines. Due to this location, Corregidor was fortified with several coastal artillery and ammunition magazines to defend the entrance of...
with all of ComSubAsia's top staff (him, Fife, Wilkes, and Doyle, everyone who had not fled with and equipment (one typewriter and a radio receiver). As the defeat became evident, Wilkes ordered all submarine crewmen out; on 1 January 1942, Murray boarded Chet Smith's with Wilkes and others, to join Hart in Soerabaja.
After fleeing the Philippines, Hart pulled Murray's boats back to Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
(in keeping with Navy Department instructions), where Murray came under the command of his old boss from SubDiv 13 Charles Lockwood's Task Force 51, becoming chief of staff of SubRon 2, under Jimmy Fife (also one of Lockwood's old Division 13 skippers).
With the death of Robert H. English
Robert Henry English
Robert Henry English was a United States Navy Commissioned officer who commanded the U.S. Navy's submarine force in the Pacific Ocean early in World War II....
, Lockwood was named ComSubPac
ComSubPac
Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet is the principal advisor to the Commander, United States Pacific Fleet for submarine matters. The Pacific Submarine Force includes attack, ballistic missile and auxiliary submarines, submarine tenders, floating submarine docks, deep submergence...
in his stead, taking Murray as his Chief of Staff (replacing John Griggs), over the objections of "Chips" Carpender
Arthur S. Carpender
Arthur Schuyler Carpender , nicknamed "Chips", was an American vice admiral during World War II commanding US naval forces in the Southwest Pacific.-Family:...
, ComSubSoWestPac.
Near the end of 1943, Murray was named Commandant of Midshipmen at Annapolis
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
, rather than to a new submarine squadron, yet another example of a wasted submarine officer.
Murray took command of in May 1945, and was responsible for the preparations for the signing of the surrender
Japanese Instrument of Surrender
The Japanese Instrument of Surrender was the written agreement that enabled the Surrender of Japan, marking the end of World War II. It was signed by representatives from the Empire of Japan, the United States of America, the Republic of China, the United Kingdom, the Union of Soviet Socialist...
on 2 September 1945.
A large man who was a friend and classmate of the previous commanding officer, Captain William M. Callaghan
William M. Callaghan
William McCombe Callaghan was a United States Navy officer who served as the first captain of the battleship and the inaugural commander of the Military Sea Transportation Service. Through the course of almost 40 years, he served his country in three wars. His naval career began on a destroyer in...
, Murray was well liked by his crew.
Murray was ComSubLant
ComSubLant
Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic is the type commander for U.S. submarines in the Atlantic Fleet. Established on 7 December 1941, Rear Admiral Richard S. Edwards was assigned as the first Force Commander. U.S. submarine operations in the Atlantic, however, go back to before the First World War...
from 1950 until 1952 and retired a three-star in 1956 after serving as Naval Inspector General
Naval Inspector General
The Office of Naval Inspector General for the United States Navy was established during World War Two to make invistigations as directed by the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations...
.