October 7, 1912 - September 16, 1944
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MTSGT Edward Payson McCray was born October 7, 1912, the son of Charles and Lulu (McGinnis). Charles was a mail carrier, and a farmer, in the Winfield District (Rt 3, 1910-1920 Census).
Lulu filed for divorce in Michigan on July 28, 1926, after 31 years of marriage. It was finalized on January 13, 1927, and she married Charles Morley shortly thereafter. Edward lived with his mother and stepfather, also a farmer, in Benton, Ohio (1930 Census).
College and his new family:
Edward attended Fairmont State College (now Fairmont State University) in 1931 and 1932, where he played on the football team.
In 1937, he married Margery Ethel Thompson in Monongalia County, and their only child, Larry Edward McCrary (1939-2015) was born in 1939. Their family lived on Mound Avenue in the Norwood neighborhood of Fairmont, while Edward worked as a truck driver (1940 Census).
Military Service:
Edward entered the draft on February 25, 1941. At the time, he was working at Owens-Illinois. Edward was 5'9" and 145 lbs.
He join