Remembering Fordham’s Bravest: Medal of Honor Recipient Robert C. Murray, FCRH ’68

This Memorial Day, the Fordham community honors and remembers the courage and sacrifice of those who gave their lives in service to our nation. Among them stands a son of the Bronx and of Fordham—Staff Sergeant Robert C. Murray, Fordham College at Rose Hill Class of 1968—who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the Vietnam War.

Raised just blocks from the Rose Hill campus on Marion Avenue, Murray was one of six children in a devout Catholic family. He attended Our Lady of Mercy Church and grammar school—fitting, as the parish’s original home was Fordham’s own University Church. From a young age, Murray was drawn to leadership and service. At Fordham Preparatory School, he served as a class officer all four years and graduated with honors in 1964. He continued on to Fordham College, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1968.

Murray briefly attended Harvard Business School before choosing a different path—one that would test his character, courage, and convictions. In 1969, he left Harvard to enlist in the U.S. Army. At a farewell dinner before shipping out, he told friends he wanted to be as prepared as possible for Vietnam—he wanted to make a difference.

And he did.

Though eligible for a non-combat role, Murray volunteered for Ranger training and was assigned as a squad leader with Company B, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry, 196th Infantry Brigade. On June 7, 1970, during a search mission near the village of Hiep Duc, a member of his squad triggered a booby-trapped grenade. Without hesitation, Murray threw himself on the grenade, sacrificing his life to save the men under his command.

He was just 23 years old.

The Medal of Honor citation reads:

“Instantly assessing the danger to the men of his squad, Staff Sgt. Murray unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his own safety, threw himself on the grenade absorbing the full and fatal impact of the explosion. By his gallant action, he prevented the death or injury of the other members of his squad.”

In August 1974, Vice President Gerald R. Ford presented the Medal of Honor to Murray’s family at Blair House in Washington, D.C. “It was just like Bob to die for his men,” his mother said. “He was always so worried about them.”

Murray was also awarded the Purple Heart and later inducted into the Fordham ROTC Hall of Fame in 2014. His name is inscribed on the Vietnam War Memorial in the University Church, where generations of students, alumni, and visitors can reflect on his sacrifice.

At the dedication of that memorial, Joseph M. McShane, S.J., then president of Fordham, offered words that still resonate today:

“By honoring these men, we pray that the losses suffered in Vietnam will be forever remembered by future generations of Americans who value the cherished gift of democracy that is found in genuine peace and lasting freedom.”

Staff Sergeant Robert C. Murray is one of six Fordham alumni to receive the Medal of Honor. His story is not only a testament to the ideals of service and sacrifice—it is a reminder of the enduring bonds between faith, education, and duty. This Memorial Day, we remember Murray and all those who gave their lives in service to others. May their memory be a blessing, and may their courage inspire us always.

This article draws upon Murray’s profile listing in Fordham’s Hall of Honor. Read about Fordham’s other Medal of Honor recipients here.