Twenty-ninth Commandant
1 July 1987 - 30 June 1991

Alfred M. Gray, born in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, 22 June 1928, enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1950. He served in the Korean War, attaining the rank of sergeant before being commissioned a second lieutenant in April 1952.

As a major, General Gray joined the 12th Marines, 3d Marine Division, in Vietnam in October 1965. He took command of the Composite Artillery Battalion and U.S. Free World Forces located at Gio Linh and then until February 1968 commanded 1st Radio Battalion elements throughout the I Corps area.

After a brief tour in the United States, he returned to Vietnam from June to September 1969 in conjunction with surveillance and reconnaissance matters.

After his Vietnam tour, General Gray served as commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, 2d Marines, and the 4th Marines. While commanding the 33d Marine Amphibious Unit and Regimental Landing Team 4, and concurrently serving as deputy commander, 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade, General Gray directed Southeast Asia evacuation operations in 1975. Advanced to brigadier general in March 1976, General Gray served as Commanding General, Landing Force Training Command, Atlantic, and the 4th Marine Amphibious Brigade. Promoted to major general in February 1980, he assumed command of the 2d Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic (FMFLant), at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in June 1981.

Following his promotion to lieutenant general on 29 August 1984, he was reassigned as commanding general of FMFLant, II Marine Amphibious Force, and FMF Europe.

General Gray was promoted to general and became Commandant of the Marine Corps on 1 July 1987. He retired on 30 June 1991 and resides in the Northern Virginia area.