Private William Gray Playground

98 St. bet. Northern Blvd. and 32 Ave.

Queens

Directions via Google Maps

This text is part of Parks’ Historical Signs Project and can be found posted within the park.

This park honors Private William Earl Gray (1947-1967) who lived in Corona and made the ultimate sacrifice for his country during the Vietnam War.

Born in Stanton, Tennessee, Gray had four sisters and five brothers. In 1956, the family moved to New York. He attended the Brooklyn Automotive High School on Bedford Avenue, where he enjoyed playing basketball. Gray enlisted in the United States Army when he was 18 and he went to Vietnam as a Private First Class with the 199th Light Infantry Brigade. His tour of duty began in December of 1966, and in February 1967 he was severely wounded in combat in Gia Dihn, South Vietnam. He soon died from his injuries.

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