North High School Wall of Honor
Thomas Paul Gray
Class of January, 1949
Research done by Claradell Shedd, class of 1953.
Thomas Paul Gray
Photo of Tom Paul Gray
in uniform

Thomas Paul Gray graduated from North High in the January, 1949 class. His next of kin was shown as Mr. Paul J. Gray living at 1809 Harding Road, Des Moines, IA.

In January, 1951, Tom enlisted at KRNT Theater in Des Moines in the US Navy. His service number was _________.

Thomas Paul Gray
Year x Rank/Event x Status
January, 1949 x Graduated x Graduated from North Des Moines High School.
1949-1951 x Employment x Worked at Iowa Power and Light in Des Moines, IA.
January, 1951 x US Navy x Enlisted in US Navy at the KRNT Theater Recruiting Office.
date x Training x Great Lakes Naval Training; Chicago, IL
1952 x Enroute x Troop train to San Francisco, CA. Troop ship to Yokohama, Japan on Merchant Marine ship run for Navy, MSTS *USS General W.M. Black (T-AP-135).
1952 x Enroute x Troop train to Sasebo, Japan.
1952 x US Navy/
Fireman/FN
x Boarded ship in Sasebo, Japan. USS Hector (AR-7). Now assigned as an electrician. Electrician Mates (EMs) are responsible for the operation of a ship's electrical power generation systems, lighting systems, electrical equipment and electrical appliances. The duties include installation, operation, adjustment, routine maintenance, inspection, test and repair of electrical equipment. EM's also perform maintenance and repair of related electronic equipment.
Nov. 28, 1953 x Discharged/
EM3
x Discharged at Treasure Island, San Francisco, CA
as Electrician 3rd Class.
1953-1995 x Civilian x Worked at Iowa Power and Light for 42 years.
May 15, 2016 x Deceased x Des Moines, Iowa (Mercy Medical Center)
*USS General W.M. Black (T-AP-135)
General W. M. Black was reacquired by the Navy 1 March 1950 and assigned to MSTS (Military Sea Transportation Service). Manned by a civilian crew, she operated out of New York in the Atlantic until 1 September when she shifted her homeport to San Francisco. Between 1950 and 1953 she steamed to the Far East and transported more than 65,000 troops and their combat equipment in support of the Korean War. After the Korean armistice, she continued tranpacific voyages, deploying troops to Japan, Korea, and Alaska and returning veterans of the Korean fighting to the United States.
Des Moines Armed Forces
Examining and Entrance Station (AFEES at KRNT)
MSTS USS General H.M. Black (T-AP-135) Electrician's
Mate (EM3)
Sasebo, Japan USS Hector (AR-7) Hector Insignia
Tom served aboard the USS Hector (AR-7), a repair ship which was commissioned in 1944. In the 1940's, the USS Hector was considered the No. 1 Repair Ship of the Fleet in the Navy. When he retired, Thomas Paul Gray was an Electrician 3rd Class, EM3.
References
The comprehensive list of names from North High's 1893-2018 graduation classes are from Claradell Shedd's North Des Moines High School website. The names of all North High School graduates can be found online at http://www.ndmhs.com/. Thomas Paul Gray's 1949 class page can be viewed at
http://www.ndmhs.com/pages/yearclass1949(2014.65).html.
06/20/10: Lives in Des Moines, IA. Tom died 05/15/16.
Music: "Anchors Aweigh"
Home | Back/allyears | WWI | WWII | Korea | Vietnam | Afghanistan/Iraq | Lyrics | Refs/Awards | Contact

©2023-csheddgraphics All rights reserved.
All images and content are © copyright of their respective copyright owners.