By Rick Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach
SAN DIEGO – A 1997 West Genessee High School graduate and Syracuse, New York, native is serving aboard the WWII namesake warship, USS Spruance.
Chief Petty Officer Joshua Murray is a fire controlman aboard the San Diego based ship, a guided missile destroyer. As a fire controlman, Murray is responsible for being in charge of the overall anti-terrorism prevention and total protection of the ship.
SAN DIEGO – A 1997 West Genessee High School graduate and Syracuse, New York, native is serving aboard the WWII namesake warship, USS Spruance.
Chief Petty Officer Joshua Murray is a fire controlman aboard the San Diego based ship, a guided missile destroyer. As a fire controlman, Murray is responsible for being in charge of the overall anti-terrorism prevention and total protection of the ship.
More than 300 Sailors serve aboard the ship, and their jobs are highly specialized, requiring both dedication and skill. The jobs range from maintaining engines to handling weaponry along with a multitude of other assignments that keep the ship mission ready at all times, according to Navy officials.
Murray has carried lessons learned from his hometown into his military service.
“In high school I played hockey and football and it helped build something stronger from not only the best players, but the overall team,” he said.
Destroyers are warships that provide multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities. They are about 510 feet long and can be armed with tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles, variants of the SM missile family, advanced gun systems and close-in gun systems.
Destroyers are deployed globally and can operate independently, as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups, or amphibious readiness groups.
Spruance is armed with long range missiles intended for air defense to counter threats to friendly forces posed by manned aircraft, anti-ship, cruise and ballistic missiles.
It was commissioned in 2011 and named after Admiral Raymond A. Spruance. He was a key naval commander during WWII, leading U.S. naval forces during two of the most significant naval battles that took place in the Pacific Theatre: Battle of Midway and Battle of the Philippine Sea. He later served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines.
At Midway, Spruance scored the first major victory for the United States over Japan; generally considered to be the turning point of the war in the Pacific.
“USS Spruance is responsible for 22 mission areas, with 350 people onboard each Sailor actively supports multiple missions, said Cmdr. Joshua Menzel, commanding officer of Spruance. “As a member of the Pacific Fleet, the crew of USS SPRUANCE patrol the same waters and trains to perform the same missions as the Sailors Admiral Spruance commanded during WWII.”
Murray’s proudest accomplishment was making the rank of Chief Petty Officer for the first time before the board in seven years, as the most junior sailor for advancement to this rank.
“It's a huge accomplishment and milestone in one's career because less than ten percent achieve this rank. It's a direct reflection of the hard work and sacrifices that are made,” he added.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Murray and other Spruance sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes.
“It means being a part of something bigger than myself and to protect those who cannot protect themselves,” said Murray. “It means making a difference for a way of life not only today, but for future generations."