Horace Author Graywas born on 15 April 1919, the son of James J. Gray and Bessie Owens.
Died 14 August 1943
US Army
PFC Gray is buried at Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Russellville, Hamblen County, Tennessee.
This was my great uncle, brother-in-law to Pfc Frank McKinney, sister was Maggie Lou Gray-McKinney.
–Submitted by Debbie Wilson
Morristown Gazette Mail, 13 September 1943
Mrs. Bessie O. Gray, who resides three miles south of Russellville, has received word that her son, Pvt. Horace A. Gray, was killed in action in the North African area on August 14th. Pvt. Gray entered the service on Jan. 21,st 1941, being inducted at Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga. He was placed in the infantry and sent to England in July of last year. In November, he was with the U.S. forces invading North Africa, and saw service in Tunisia. He later went to Sicily, from which point the last letter written by him on August 6th, was received by his mother only a few days ago. In this letter he stated he had been in Sicily “some time” and begged for letters from home. Before entering the service, he was employed in the wholesale house of Hale Bros. in this city. Surviving Pvt. Gray, in addition to his mother are two sisters, Mrs. Maggie Lou McKinney and Mrs. Hazel Crigger, both residing near Russellville.
- Rank: Private First Class
- Date of birth: 15 April 1919
- Date of death: 14 August 1943
- County: Hamblen
- Hometown: Morristown
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: Infantry
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Russellville, Hamblen County, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar X, Top Panel
- Sponsored by: Debbie Wilson
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