Following his graduation in May 1917, he was commissioned a second lieutenant on May 21, then was subsequently sent to the Marine Corps Rifle Range in Winthrop, Maryland for basic training, where he remained until the end of June.

The recruiting duties lasted until October 1926, when he was ordered to the Marine barracks at Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot, Massachusetts, where he served as Company officer for two years.

[2] Murray returned stateside in August 1931 and was assigned to the Marine Corps Schools Quantico, Virginia in order to attend the Field Officers Course.

Following completion of the instruction, he was ordered to Annapolis, Maryland, and appointed commanding officer of Marine detachment aboard the USS Reina Mercedes, which served as a detention vessel and barracks ship for the United States Naval Academy.

He spent several months in sunny California until he was ordered to the Naval Base Guam in March 1938 as commanding officer of the local Marine Barracks.

[2] His next orders brought him back to San Diego, where he was attached to 2nd Marine Brigade under Brigadier General Clayton B. Vogel, however during the end of November 1940, Murray was transferred to Hawaii and appointed commanding officer of the 2nd Defense Battalion stationed there.

[2] Murray was subsequently appointed commanding general of the newly activated 6th Defense Battalion on Hawaii, before he was ordered back to the United States to the 2nd Marine Division.

[1] Murray remained in Panama until August 1943, when he was ordered back to San Diego and appointed chief of staff of the Fleet Marine Force under Major General Holland M. Smith.

Colonel Murray finally sailed for Pacific theater in April 1944, when he was appointed deputy commander for plans of the Military Government on Guam under Major General Henry L.

[2] Colonel Murray returned to the United States during summer of 1946 and, after a brief leave, was appointed deputy commander and chief of staff of Department of the Pacific in San Francisco under his old superior, Major General Henry L. Larsen.