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Frazee, Murray Bennett, Jr. (Murph)(Silverstarx3), CAPT.
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Murray was born in Lafayette, Indiana on January 8, 1916, the son of the late Lieutenant Colonel Murray B. Frazee Sr, AUS (Ret) and Mrs. Caroline (Matthews) Frazee. He graduated from Gettysburg High School in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in 1933 and attended Gettysburg College for two years. In 1935, he enrolled in the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland and graduated with a B.S. degree in 1939.
Murray's commission as Ensign began 27 years of active duty in the Navy. Following one year in an aircraft carrier and a year as Chief Engineer in a destroyer, Murray enrolled in submarine school and served in submarines throughout World War II. He made eleven submarine war patrols, each averaging 60 days, the first seven in the Grayback and the last four in the Tang as second in command. He commanded the submarine GAR from 1944-45. For his gallantry in action, he received three awards of the Silver Star Medal and two of the Bronze Star Medal.
Following the war, Murray commanded the submarine Greenfish, a division of 5 submarines and a squadron of 14 submarines, and had four 3-year tours of duty in the Pentagon. Concurrently with his naval service, he attended George Washington University Law School, receiving his J.D. Degree with honors in 1948, and American University, earning an M.A. degree in 1964. He advanced through the ranks and served as Captain from 1958 until his voluntary retirement in 1966. Upon retirement, he passed the Pennsylvania bar exam and practiced law in Adams County through 1981 in partnership with his brother-in-law, the late Donald M. Swope.
Murray was married on December 27, 1941 to Betty Swope at her home in Gettysburg. Their loving 65-year marriage resulted in four children: Nancy, wife of Dr. David D.S. Poor, of Meadowbrook, PA; James, husband of Tricia (Merrick), of Gettysburg; Sally, wife of Dr. Raymond Wells, of Abington, PA; and Murray III, husband of Amanda (Polinski) of Eugene, OR. He is also survived by his sister, Colonel Mary E. Frazee, USA (Ret) of San Antonio, TX, as well as 11 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
Murray was a member since 1931 of the Gettysburg Presbyterian Church. He was also a member of the Hanover Elks, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association.
Other Comments:
Name of Award
Silver Star
Year Awarded
1944
Details behind Award:
Awarded for actions during the World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander Murray Bennett Frazee, Jr. (NSN: 0-82511), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Officer of the Deck, Torpedo and Gunnery Officer and Torpedo Data Computer Operator on board a United States Submarine during seven war patrols of that vessel against enemy Japanese forces in alien waters. Immediately after a hostile submarine was sighted, Lieutenant Commander Frazee took prompt and effective action, rendering invaluable assistance to his Commanding Officer in pressing home a successful attack against the enemy vessel. Throughout this period of prolonged underwater operations, he performed his essential duties with coolness and skill, often in the face of severe hostile countermeasures and contributed materially to the sinking and damaging of an important amount of vital Japanese shipping. Lieutenant Commander Frazee's inspiring leadership and resolute devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commander 7th Fleet: Serial 0547 (March 11, 1944)
Action Date: World War II
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Company: Officer of the Deck
Division: U.S. Submarine
(Second Award)
Awarded for actions during the World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant] Murray Bennett Frazee, Jr. (NSN: 0-82511), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Assistant Approach Officer of the U.S.S. TANG (SS-306), during the FIRST War Patrol of that Submarine in enemy Japanese-controlled waters, from 22 January to 3 March 1944. Skilled in the performance of duty, Lieutenant Commander Frazee rendered invaluable assistance to his Commanding Officer in delivering aggressive torpedo attacks against heavily escorted enemy convoys to sink four ships totaling over 40,000 tons and in conducting successful evasive tactics during subsequent enemy countermeasures. His devotion to duty reflects the highest credit upon Lieutenant Commander Frazee and the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Pacific Fleet Board of Awards: Serial 76 (October 9, 1944)
Action Date: January 22 - March 3, 1944
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Company: Assistant Approach Officer
Division: U.S.S. Tang (SS-306)
(Third Award)
Awarded for actions during the World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander Murray Bennett Frazee, Jr. (NSN: 0-82511), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Assistant Approach Officer of the U.S.S. TANG (SS-306), during the THIRD War Patrol of that submarine in enemy-controlled waters, from 8 June to 14 July 1944. Skilled in the interpretation of attack phases during each of the nine successful attacks launched against enemy shipping, Lieutenant Commander Frazee contributed directly to the success of his vessel in sinking seven hostile freighters and one seaplane tender for a total of 56,000 tons. Coolly aiding in evading enemy countermeasures, at times in shallow waters, he rendered invaluable assistance to his commanding officer in effecting her escape and avoiding severe damage. His professional ability, courage and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Lieutenant Commander Frazee and the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Pacific Fleet Board of Awards: Serial 79 (October 10, 1944)
Action Date: June 8 - July 14, 1944
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Company: Assistant Approach Officer
Division: U.S.S. Tang (SS-306)
World War II/Asiatic-Pacific Theater/Guadalcanal Campaign (1942-43)
From Month/Year
August / 1942
To Month/Year
February / 1943
Description The Guadalcanal Campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal and codenamed Operation Watchtower by Allied forces, was a military campaign fought between 7 August 1942 and 9 February 1943 on and around the island of Guadalcanal in the Pacific theatre of World War II. It was the first major offensive by Allied forces against the Empire of Japan.
On 7 August 1942, Allied forces, predominantly American, landed on the islands of Guadalcanal, Tulagi, and Florida in the southern Solomon Islands with the objective of denying their use by the Japanese to threaten the supply and communication routes between the US, Australia, and New Zealand. The Allies also intended to use Guadalcanal and Tulagi as bases to support a campaign to eventually capture or neutralize the major Japanese base at Rabaul on New Britain. The Allies overwhelmed the outnumbered Japanese defenders, who had occupied the islands since May 1942, and captured Tulagi and Florida, as well as an airfield (later named Henderson Field) that was under construction on Guadalcanal. Powerful US naval forces supported the landings.
Surprised by the Allied offensive, the Japanese made several attempts between August and November 1942 to retake Henderson Field. Three major land battles, seven large naval battles (five nighttime surface actions and two carrier battles), and continual, almost daily aerial battles culminated in the decisive Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in early November 1942, in which the last Japanese attempt to bombard Henderson Field from the sea and land with enough troops to retake it was defeated. In December 1942, the Japanese abandoned further efforts to retake Guadalcanal and evacuated their remaining forces by 7 February 1943 in the face of an offensive by the US Army's XIV Corps, conceding the island to the Allies.
The Guadalcanal campaign was a significant strategic combined arms victory by Allied forces over the Japanese in the Pacific theatre. The Japanese had reached the high-water mark of their conquests in the Pacific, and Guadalcanal marked the transition by the Allies from defensive operations to the strategic offensive in that theatre and the beginning of offensive operations, including the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, and Central Pacific campaigns, that resulted in Japan's eventual surrender and the end of World War II.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
August / 1942
To Month/Year
December / 1942
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories On her third and fourth war patrols, in the South China Sea and St. George's Passage, Grayback was hampered by bright moonlight, shallow and treacherous water, and enemy patrol craft. Despite these hazards, she damaged several freighters and an enemy submarine. However, the very presence of Grayback and her sister ships in these watersâ??the threat they presented to shipping and the number of enemy escorts they tied upâ??was an important factor in the successful conclusion of the Guadalcanal campaign, America's first offensive campaign in the Pacific war.
