'Screaming Eagle' Thanks Willistown Police for Support During Afghanistan Deployment

His pixelated camouflage uniform might have rendered him near-invisible in Afghanistan, but at the front of the Willistown Township public meeting room, Spc. Hugh Murray Jr. stood out prominently.

Murray attended Monday night's Board of Supervisors meeting to thank the community for its support during his yearlong deployment to Afghanistan. His unit received several care packages sent through the Willistown Police Troop Relief program.

"The money that was raised and all the goods that were purchased for not only my platoon, but my company and what turned out to be my entire battalion, was very greatly appreciated," Murray said. "It turned a lot of heads, I’ll put it that way."

Murray, the son of Township manager Hugh Murray Sr., joined the Army in 2009 at age 34. He served as a Scout Platoon RTO—Radio and Telephone Operator—in the 502nd Infantry Division, 2nd Battalion of the 101st Airborne, a.k.a. the Screaming Eagles. 

"It was obviously our honor to do something as a township to support our troops, knowing one of our own was over there," Police Chief John Narcise said. "I’m glad he’s back. I worried about him every day."

The Willistown Police Department spearheaded an effort to collect supplies for the soldiers, soliciting donations from township residents and other police groups, including the Chester County Chiefs of Police Association.

Murray, all smiles as he expressed his gratitude, was flanked by Chief Narcise, Officer Mark Monroe, who served as a Marine in Iraq, and local businessman Ed Leaf, a Vietnam veteran and a top donor to the program.

"They called me 'Old man' down there,” Murray said of his younger fellow soldiers. “'Old man, you got six more boxes from the cops.'"

In addition to snacks and toiletries, Murray said he was able to make special requests that were answered quickly and made a big difference for the soldiers.

"The egg-crate mattresses were back-savers. And that’s saying something in the Army, if you can save your back a little bit," Murray said.

"We got tactical backpacks, which were phenomenal. Usually only the Special Forces boys get those, but when you’re backed up by Willistown, I guess we get them, too."

Murray is back in town on 30-day leave, with two more years to fulfill in his commitment to the Army. This week, he travels to England to see his fiancee, before heading back to Kentucky.

His father was home sick and unable to attend the meeting, but his mother, Ginny Murray, joined him for a photo after he was done speaking.

The remaining funds for the Willistown Police Troop Relief program will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Program, according to Narcise.