American Legion Beaufort Post 207 brings you Beaufort’s Suzanne DeGraw McMurray, 70, who joined the United States Navy in Jackson, Miss., in 1974. After Boot Camp and Personnelman specialty training in Orlando, she was assigned as the seventh enlisted woman to serve at the Naval Construction Regiment (the Seabees) in Gulfport, Miss. While there she was selected to be the Princess of the Seabee Ball. In addition to her personnel duties, she was in charge of preparations for any named tropical storms threatening the area. She separated in 1978 as a Second Class Petty Officer and began a multi-facetted career that included teaching roller skating, as a house-mother at a shelter for abused children and 13 years as office manager for a HVAC company. She was married to Thomas McMurray (deceased), who served in the Navy as a Seal for 12 years and in the Coast Guard for 26 more years. She moved to Beaufort in 2000.
Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 207. For Veteran Of The Week nominations, contact jechubb1@gmail.com.
