Harry Gray

Harry Gifford Gray was born November 11th, 1931 in Bakersfield, California. He attended East Bakersfield High School where he met the love of his life, Helen Larrainzar, and was subsequently married to her in his Air Force uniform. While serving overseas in Korea, he would petition successfully to have an F86 fighter named after Helen. Harry was a staunch believer in hard work, equality, and fair treatment; skills he honed while in the Air Force. He passed these traits on to his family; he was loved as a kind man who worked hard for his loved ones and country.

Service Record

Harry Gray began active service in the United States Air Force on February 8th, 1951. Boot camp was completed at Lackland Air Force Base in Bexar County, Texas. Harry Gray began his specialization as an Air Force mechanic in Tillamook, Oregon from May 1951 until August 1951. His education continued at the Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois from August 1951 until September 1951. He took leave for 30 days after completing his training, then shipped overseas to the K2 Air Force Base in Daegu, Korea where he served as a mechanic from December 1951 until November 1952. After the Armistice, Harry Gray was stationed in Fairchild Air Force Base in Fairchild, Washington from December 1951 through July 10th 1953 when he was honorably discharged and transferred to Inactive Reserves. He received his final discharge on July 10th 1958.

 

Comments

Likes 0

You must be a registered user to comment or like - please register to join us!

May 01, 2021 02:01 pm
Mary Huffman
Thank you so much for creating this veteran profile. I love how Harry Gray served as a mechanic during the Korean War. Mechanics are really important because they keep all vehicles up and running throughout their tour of duty!

Display: Grid Detailed

Arlington Aeronautical School - Tillamook, Oregon - 1951

group of soldiers

Arlington Aeronautical School – Tillamook, Oregon – 1951

1st Row – Left to Right

Bill Moore – Chicago, Illinois/Eldon Johnson – Paxton, Illinois/Ralph Balintine – Texas/Jerry Darling – Sacramento, California/Harry Gray – Bakersfield, California/Klein – Wisconsin/Montgomery – Missouri/Gibson – California/Myer – Indiana/Gallup – Illinois/Jirka – Nebraska/Vardamin – Indiana/”Lenny” – Minnesota/Anderson – North Carolina

2nd Row – Left to Right

Rocko – Illinois/McCapes – San Luis Obispo, California/Shargi – New Orleans/Wicks – Texas/Kerr – Inglewood, California/Shultz – Ohio/Dillon – Michigan/Housg – Missouri/Henry – Missouri/Seal – Indiana/Prussia – Nebraska/Huntley – Hawaii/Meeks -Iowa

3rd Row – Left to Right

Alexander – Michigan/Blue – Utah/Nagle – Chicago, Illinois/Walters – Iowa/Pachicco – Sacramento, California/Whitfield – North Carolina/Arbor – Louisiana/Conway – Chicago, Illinois/Langieng – San Francisco, California/Woods – Washington/Torpey – Washington/Fowler – Minnesota/Real – South Carolina

4th Row – Left to Right

Paterson – Tennessee/Nance – North Carolina/”Jake” – Chicago, Illinois/Scott – Washington/”Red” – Indiana/Strelow – Michigan/Oase – Washington/Hisey – Indiana/Nusser – California/Walton – Georgia/Hibbs – California

Show All »

group of soldiers

Arlington Aeronautical School - Tillamook, Oregon - 1951

Boysan – “Korean Houseboy eating Hi Ho Crackers like mad”

March 1952 – Korea

Show All »

Boysan – “Korean Houseboy eating Hi Ho Crackers like mad” March 1952 – Korea

Sunbathing Air Force – Don Puich

Tillamook Oregon – Air Force Mechanic Training

 

Show All »

Sunbathing Air Force – Don Puich Tillamook Oregon – Air Force Mechanic Training  

Harry Gray aboard friend’s plane.

December 1951

Show All »

Harry Gray aboard friend’s plane. December 1951

Harry posing in front of the Willamette River prior to heading overseas.

Portland Oregon – 1951

 

Show All »

Harry posing in front of the Willamette River prior to heading overseas. Portland Oregon – 1951  

Military Payment Certificate

Show All »

Military Payment Certificate

Getting Tricky on Base

Show All »

Getting Tricky on Base

Re-United in Portland

Harry Gray with friends Charlie and Bob

Show All »

Re-United in Portland

Korean War - Key Events

January 17, 1950

North Korean leader Kim Il-Sung proposes the “liberation” of South Korea to Soviet officials. Weeks of telegram exchanges between Beijing, Moscow, and P’yŏngyang follow, and by early spring Kim has secured assurances of support for the invasion from Soviet premier Joseph Stalin and Chinese leader Mao Zedong.

These events are taken from the Encyclopedia Britannica

New Report

Close