ALTON - When every other member of his machine-gun squad was killed or wounded, Marine Pvt. Olin M. Gray of Alton took control of the weapon and destroyed two Japanese machine-gun positions during fighting on July 20, 1943, at Bairoko Harbor in New Georgia, Solomon Islands.
Gray, who served with Company Q of the 4th Marine Raider Battalion during World War II, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his extraordinary heroism in the engagement.
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Acting on his own initiative, Gray repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to draw fire and reveal Japanese positions. He then single-handedly located and destroyed the two machine-gun nests.
When his company withdrew, Gray stayed behind to cover its rear elements. He was the last man to safely leave the area.
Gray served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1942 to 1945. The award account identifies him as a member of the Marine Corps Reserve.
His other medals and honors included the Purple Heart Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and Marine Corps Rifle Marksmanship Badge.
Gray died Nov. 3, 2013.
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