Harry Gifford Gray
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Bio
Harry Gifford Gray was born on November 11th, 1931, in Bakersfield, California. He attended East Bakersfield High School, where he met the love of his life, Helen Larrainzar, and later married her while in the Air Force. While serving overseas in Korea, he successfully petitioned to have an F-86 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. Harry completed boot camp 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 30 days of leave 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 at Fairchild Air Force Base in Fairchild, Washington, from December 1951 through July 10th 1953, when he was honorably discharged and transferred to the Inactive Reserves. He received his final discharge on July 10th, 1958.
Photos
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
Boysan - "Korean Houseboy eating Hi Ho Crackers like mad"
March 1952 - Korea
Sunbathing Air Force - Don Puich
Tillamook Oregon - Air Force Mechanic Training
Harry Gray aboard friend's plane.
December 1951
Harry posing in front of the Willamette River prior to heading overseas.
Portland Oregon - 1951
Military Payment Certificate
Getting Tricky on Base
Harry Gray with friends Charlie and Bob
User-Submitted Content
This content was originally submitted for The 22: Korean War International Legacy, a community site dedicated to preserving the legacy of those who served in the Korean War. The 22 website has merged with the KWLF and all profiles have been added to the KWLF Interview Archive.