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Murray Jr. Elmer L.

Monuments

Douglas C-47 42-93095

 

Name:
Elmer L. Murray Jr.
Rank:
Sergeant
Serial Number:
19126297
Unit:
506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
Date of Death:
1944-06-06
State:
California
Cemetery:
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Missour
Plot:
84
Row:
Grave:
25-31
Decoration:
Comments:

Sgt Elmer L. Murray Jr., NCO of “E” Company, 506th PIR 101st Airborne Division, took off from Uppottery, UK on a combat drop as part of Operation Albany. While over Sainte-Mere-Eglise the plane was hit by AA fire, causing one of the engines to burst into flames. The pilot tried to land the plane in a field by the RN13 but it clipped a hedgerow and exploded, killing everyone aboard. The wreck burned for three days. No bodies were ever found and vegetation hasn’t grown on the crash site to this day. Murray’s unit was represented in the TV series Band of Brothers. He left behind his wife Nancy, to whom he wrote the following poem It’s Always You: “Whenever it’s early twilight, I watch ‘till a star breaks thru Funny, it’s not a star I see – It’s always you. Whenever I roam through roses And lately I often do Funny, it’s not a rose I touch It’s always you. If a breeze caresses me It’s really you strolling by If I hear a melody It’s merely the way you sigh. Wherever you are you’re near me You dare me to be untrue Funny, each time I fall in love It’s always you.”