He was promoted to first lieutenant in August 1938. In January 1938, he joined the Marine detachment at the American Embassy in Peiking. Embarking with the brigade for China in September 1937, he served for a short time with the 2nd Battalion in Shanghai.

On July 9, 1935, following graduation from Texas A&M College, he accepted his commission as a Marine second lieutenant.Īfter completing the Basic School at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in March 1936, Lieutenant Murray joined the 2nd Marine Brigade in San Diego, California.

During the Korean War, he was twice again cited for extraordinary heroism, earning the Army Distinguished Service Cross during the period of November 29 to December 4, 1950, and a second Navy Cross on December 6 and 7, 1950, as commander of the 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced). He was the inspiration for the battalion commander in Leon Uris's 1953 novel Battle Cry. He retired from active duty on August 1, 1968.Īs a lieutenant colonel on Saipan during World War II, General Murray was awarded his first Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism under fire, June 15, 1944, while commanding the 2nd Battalion 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division. Much superior to most of the junky reference books that have followed.Major General Raymond Leroy Murray (Janu– November 11, 2004) was a highly decorated United States Marine Corps officer who earned two Navy Crosses, one during World War II and a second during the Korean War. Easily the most comprehensive and intelligent guide to 'queer cinema' I have come across. The 200 detailed personality profiles and more than 300 expansive film reviews are exceptional.Īnd when you consider the boom in gay and lesbian filmmaking in the last 20+ years, we definitely need a new volume.īut even if you may consider this too old a reference guide to bother with, think again as it is chock full of still relevant information and is a first-rate encyclopedia of gay/lesbian film history. Sections divided up into: Favorite Directors / Favorite Stars / The Arts / Of Queer Interest / Of Lesbian Interest / Of Gay Interest / Of Transgender Interest / Camp / Honorable and Dishonorable Mentions complete with a very thorough index. just a pity no one ever got around to updating it.Ī very handsome book with an excellent easy to follow format and boasting an awesome collection of some 400 well-chosen photos which places this work way above the ordinary. This is a terrific guide to Gay and Lesbian films up to 1996.

Images in the Dark by Raymond Murray