The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, PFC Donald Eugene McMurray, RA14265522, who died in the service of his country on August 6th, 1950 in South Korea. The cause of death was listed as KIA. At the time of his death Donald was 20 years of age. He was from Knoxville, Tennessee. Donald's Military Occupation Specialty was 4745-Light Weapons Infantryman.
The decorations earned by PFC Donald Eugene McMurray include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star with V, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Korea Service Medal, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
Private First Class McMurray was a member of the 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on August 6, 1950. Private First Class McMurray was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantrymans Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
Donald Eugene McMurray, born May 6, 1930 in Knoxville, was the son of Harvey H. and Lela Myers McMurray. He had two brothers; William T. McMurray, who was with the US Navy stationed in Japan on the USS New Jersey and James R. McMurray of Knoxville. Donald had one sister, Mrs. Blanche Blair of Miami, Florida. He attended Klondike elementary and Young High Schools and was a member of Galilee Baptist Church. While he was attending Young High School, Donald began to try and find work in Knoxville and when he was unsuccessful left Knoxville hitchhiking to Florida. He made his way south to Miami and took up residence at the home of his sister, Blanche. He had lived with his sister only for a brief time when he decided to join the United States Army. He joined the Army and began serving with the 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. In August 1950, the North Korean Army was advancing South down the west coast of the Korean Peninsula without much opposition; their objective was Pusan. The 25th Division also known as the Tropic Lightning Division was ordered from the northeastern flank to the southwestern flank of Pusan. The 35th Regiment moved its position first and arriving at Masan on August 3, 1950. This maneuver was completed in 36 hours over one hundred and fifty miles placing the Division at the Chinju-Masan Corridor. Private First Class McMurray was defending this corridor on August 6, 1950 when he was killed by the advancing enemy army. For his valor, Private First Class McMurray was awarded the Bronze Star. Donald was returned to Knoxville for funeral services almost one year later. On Independence Day, July 4, 1951 funeral services were held at his home church, Galilee Baptist and burial following at Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery with full military honors.
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