Medal of Honor recipient, SC resident, dies

Charles P. Murray Jr., who was awarded the Medal of Honor for leading an attack that turned back a 200-strong German unit during action in Northwestern France in late 1944 and later spent his last 40 years living in Columbia, died Friday at age 89.

Murray, who grew up in Wilmington, NC, had finished his third year at the University of North Carolina when he was drafted into the Army in 1942.

By October 1944, Murray, then 23 years old, was serving as a replacement platoon leader for Company C of the 20^th Infantry Regiment of the 3^rd Infantry Division.

The division had landed in Saint-Tropez on the southern coast of France following months earlier and was pushing northward towards Germany. On Dec. 8, 1944, Murray became company commander.