Posted on Oct 12, 2015
Sgt Tom Cunnally
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Old-timers may recall that in the late 1970s, several senior Marine generals were southerners: General Wilson was from Mississippi; the Assistant Commandant, Robert Barrow, was from Louisiana, and John Miller, who was General Gray’s boss at the time, was from Texas.

Sometime after the promotion ceremony, Brigadier General Gray was part of a panel at Quantico; he was asked to what he attributed his rise through the ranks from enlisted man all the way to general officer? Gray pondered the question for a few seconds and then replied, “Well, my career really took off when I realized that I was from Southern New Jersey.”
Edited 9 y ago
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Sgt Tom Cunnally
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I love the story of when he visited the troops in Kuwait and one of the troops asked him about morale and entertainment. His response? There WILL be morale and I am your entertainment.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
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I had the pleasure of meeting Gen. Gray when the Library at Quantico was named in his honor (Afred M. Gray Research Center). It is located across from the Marine Corps University, where I used to instruct.
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Sgt Tom Cunnally
Sgt Tom Cunnally
9 y
Aaron.......I never met General Al Gray I got a letter from the Commandant of the Marine Corps and had no idea what it was for??? So when I opened the letter he thanked me for mentioning him in a Humor In Uniform Story I wrote for Leatherneck Magazine in 1991.. I forget which story it was...But I think I wrote a story how Gen Al Gray reminded me of Chesty because they both didn't want "Fat" Marines in their Marine Corps... They both had a great sense of humor from what I understand from those who knew both of them..
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Cpl Software Engineer
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He was my Commandant for a time.
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Sgt Tom Cunnally
Sgt Tom Cunnally
9 y
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Gen Gray read one of my "Humor in Uniform " stories I used to write for Leatherneck Magazine ... I think it was one about him not wanting to see "Fat Marines" in his Marine Corps and the NCOs had better do something about this or lose some stripes...
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