Durant, Oklahoma native Aaron McMurtrey, who died aboard USS California during the Dec. 7. 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors at 3 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 13. McMurtrey was born in Kemp, Oklahoma, about 20 miles south of Durant.
McMurtrey enlisted in Dallas in 1940 as a Seaman Apprentice and rose to the rank of Seaman 1st Class (S1c). He was awarded a Purple Heart Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal (Fleet Clasp), American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (Bronze Star), and World War II Victory Medal.
A Seaman’s duties included performing ordinary deck duties in connection with the upkeep and operations of the ship, such as painting, cleaning, and polishing of the ship’s brightwork; the collection and disposal of garbage; maintenance and repair of various types of equipment. He also handled ropes and wires; stored and secured items; assisted with the movement of cargo on and off the ship. He stood watches as lookout, telephone talker, messenger, or similar duties, and also was member of a gun crew.
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