Page 18 - North Haven Magazine Issue 10 Autumn 2019

REMEMBERING A F ALLEN SOLDIER AND A NURSE :

by Marisa Hexter
November 11, 2018, marked the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. While the war primarily involved countries situat-
ed in Europe, the United States entered the scene in 1917. After declaring war on Germany, men across the country volunteered
themselves for the fight. North Haven was no exception. Over 100 men from town served as members of the United States military;
many barely 18 years old. Women also found their part in the war as many became nurses to care for the wounded. In all of this,
two North Haven lives stick out, a fallen soldier named William Murray and a lone nurse, Grace Mudge. Both with sad endings.
illiam John Murray was born September 7, 1897, in Brock-
Wways, New York to William John Murray and Mary Elizabeth
Manning. He was the oldest of six children with three brothers:
Arthur, Howard, and Alfred, and two sisters: Gertrude and Viola.
William moved to North Haven when he was very young and pro-
ceeded to be educated at the local schools where he showed a great
interest in the building of the town’s Civil War memorial. When he
left school, he became a laborer but not long after, he enlisted in
the military and served on the Mexican border. On June 20, 1917,
at the age of 20, William volunteered himself for the war in Europe.
He became part of the 26th Division, 102nd Infantry Regiment,
Company L, where he took his place as a cook.
A little over a year later while Murray was completing his duties at
the camp, an artillery shell burst near him and two other soldiers.
All were wounded. On the way to the nearby hospital the same day,
October 3, 1918, at 3 pm, William Murray was pronounced dead.
He turned 21 less than a month before.
is still very much important to the town’s involvement in the war.
North Haven did not forget about William at all. After the war, World War I saw women joining the military as nurses for the first
there was a memorial held in his honor, led by town historian Shel- time in history. Grace thus became the first North Haven woman
don Thorpe who wrote a speech about Murray. While William was to join the military! During this time, women were still very busy
originally buried in France after his death with full military honors, on the homefront. From raising money for war bonds to knitting
his body was eventually brought back to North Haven. At the end items which were sent abroad for American soldiers.
of his speech, Thorpe states Murray deserved the same honors as
the North Haven men who fought and lost their lives in previous After the war ended, Grace returned to North Haven to live with
wars, as they all protected their country with “valor and bravery”. her family again. Not long after, she met war veteran Louis A.
Johnson of Waltham, Massachusetts. The two wed in June of 1920
in North Haven before spending most of their time in Massachu-
setts. Unfortunately, the newlyweds soon faced their own tragedy.
On November 1, 1920, Louis died in a Boston hospital. Grace and
Louis were only married for five months. His funeral was held in
North Haven where many people came to mourn the loss of the
young man. The cause of his death was war-related, something that
many veterans would face in the years following the war. Louis had
a mixture of shell-shock and the lasting effects of mustard gas, and
after unsuccessful brain surgery, he passed away.

Sadly, traces of Grace’s life seem to end here, at the age of 23. Wid-
owed before married life could truly begin and after treating the
wounded soldiers from chemical and physical warfare, Grace had
seen and experienced her fair share of tragedy. It is possible she
stayed in Massachusetts after her husband’s funeral and went back
to school to be a nurse as a small record from the archives suggests,
but the rest of Grace’s life is truly a mystery.
race Elizabeth Mudge was born on November 10, 1897, to Dr. Two people. One war. One town. Both lives changed before the age
GCushing Mudge, a dentist, and Harriet Johnson Allen in Mas- of 25. William Murray’s legacy can still be found in North Haven as
sachusetts. She was the oldest of four siblings and had three broth- he was immortalized by the American Legion in 1920 because he
ers, Harold, Cushing, and Robert. Her brother, Harold also fought was the only soldier to die at war. Later, the Legion renamed itself
in the war and enlisted at 17 years old. Whether it was a reaction Murray-Reynolds to pay respect to Edgar Reynolds who died of the
from her brother joining the war or a call to duty, Grace enrolled in lasting effects of chemical warfare, similar to Grace’s husband. To
the U.S. Student Nurse Reserve in New Haven. She was one of eight this day the Murray-Reynolds Post has greatly served North Ha-
women from the area, but the only one from North Haven. She was ven. The two young North Haven residents heard the call to join
19 to 20 years old at this time. the fight in 1917 as America entered World War I. They not only
served their country, their company, but they also served the town
While not much is known about her time as a nurse, Grace’s life of North Haven. And for that, we thank them.

18 North Haven Magazine - Autumn 2019