Danbury, Ia.—Sgt. Milford (“Stub”) Gray, who served with the skytroops in Germany, has sent his purple heart award to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Millard E. Gray. Sgt. Gray worked to the rank of sergeant in the Army, and then sacrificed his rating to become a paratrooper. He is now again rated a sergeant.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, July 24, 1945
Danbury, Ia., Paratrooper On Way Home from Europe
S. Sgt. Milford L. Gray Takes Part in Many Battles
DANBURY, IA.—Special: S. Sgt. Milford L. Gray, a qualified parachutist, who participated in the Rome-Arno, southern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and central Europe campaigns, was to arrive in the United
States soon with the 17th airborne division from the European theater and will come here to visit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Millard E. Gray.
S. Sgt. Gray is a member of the 513th parachute infantry regiment and has one jump to his credit. He served as a lineman and supply sergeant with the 517th parachute combat team and wears the purple heart, combat infantry badge, five bronze campaign stars and the invasion arrowhead.
Gray was a volunteer for Army service on February 3, 1941, at the age of 20. He worked up to the rank of staff sergeant and then volunteered for paratrooper training, taking the rank of private. He became a paratrooper at Fort Benning, Ga., and advanced again to the rank of staff sergeant.
He has two brothers, Pvt. Frank Gray, of Van Nuys, Cal., who is now in Yokohama, Japan, and Everett Gray of Eagle Grove, Ia., and three sisters, Mrs. C. N. Jensen of Danbury, Mrs. Carl Rischen of Pierson, Ia., and Mrs. Clark Stamper of Arlington, Va.
He was employed at a service station here before entering the service.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, September 16, 1945 (photo included)
