Army Col. Charles Patrick Murray Jr. spent three decades serving his country, but his most notable contribution came toward the beginning of his career. During the waning days of World War II in Europe, Murray took out dozens of enemy soldiers while trying
Army Col. Charles Patrick Murray Jr. earned the Medal of Honor for taking out dozens of enemy soldiers while trying to establish a position for his platoon along a French valley during World War II.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Cape Canaveral Space Force[1] Station had a different kind of launch on its plate Thursday when the Army[2] and Navy[3] teamed up to complete a test of a hypersonic missile.
The launch of what is known as the Dark Eagle Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon system was an end-to-end test using Space Launch Complex 46, which hosted a pair of Astra Space rocket launches in 2022.
The launch apparatus used a battery operations center and transporter erector launcher, sending the missile streaking east over the Atlantic in a successful test, according to a press release from the Department of Defense.
The conventional hypersonic missile test was performed by the Army's Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office with Navy Strategic Systems Programs. It was the second test of the year for the system, but the first "live-fire event," the DOD stated.
"This test builds on several flight tests in which the Common Hypersonic Glide Body achieved hypersonic speed at target distances and demonstrates that we can put this capability in the hands of the warfighter," said Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth.
The system is meant to be deployed on land or sea. Hypersonic missiles travel at more than five times the speed of sound offering a much more difficult weapon to counter after launch.
"This test is a demonstration of the successful Navy and Army partnership that has allowed us to develop a transformational hypersonic weapon system that will deliver unmatched capability to meet joint warfighting needs," said Vice Admiral Johnny R. Wolfe Jr, Director of the Navy's Strategic Systems Programs.
The Navy, which leads the program to design a common hypersonic missile, is partnering with the Army to allow for a quicker timeline and lower cost to getting operational weapons in the field, the DOD stated.
"This test marks an important milestone in the development of one of our most advanced weapons systems. As we approach the first delivery of this capability to our Army partners, we will continue to press forward to integrate Conventional Prompt Strike into our Navy surface and subsurface ships to help ensure we remain the world's preeminent fighting force," said Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro.
Civilian Defense Department employees can now shop at 16 commissaries in seven states under a pilot program designed to expand benefits and increase revenue for the system.
Defense Commissary Agency officials announced the expansion earlier this month, saying that allowing civilians, including appropriated and non-appropriated fund personnel such as those who work in exchanges or other Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities, is expected to increase DeCA's overall sales volume, "generating additional savings for all patrons" through lower wholesale pricing and incentives by suppliers.
"We welcome the opportunity to participate in DoD's pilot to expand commissary shopping privileges to DoD civilian employees at 16 of our stores," DeCA director and chief executive officer John Hall said in a statement.
The pilot will test the feasibility of expanding the benefit to DoD civilians at all domestic U.S. commissaries. It began Dec. 5 and should run for 120 days.
According to Keith Desbois, public affairs specialist for DeCA West and Pacific areas, the pilot locations were chosen to include various store sizes and varying civilian employee populations.
DeCA also considered geography, including vast areas with high concentrations of civilians to test area commissaries' "ability to support large increases" in populations.
The 16 stores chosen were:
DeCA, headquartered at Fort Gregg-Adams, runs 235 commissaries worldwide. In 2024, it generated sales of $4.755 billion across 72.1 million transactions. Among the goals of the system is to provide significant savings to customers; in 2024, patrons saved roughly 25% off their grocery bills compared with civilian stores in their areas, according to the agency.
The pilot does not allow family members of civilian employees or former or retired Defense Department employees to shop at the stores. Commissary baggers, who work in the stores only for tips, also are not included in the pilot.
Under the test, civilian employees also will be restricted from buying tobacco or alcohol products and will not be able to use DeCA's online ordering and curbside pickup system known as Click2Go.
Patrons at commissaries do not pay sales tax; however, the stores are required to charge a 5% surcharge that covers the cost of construction, maintenance and equipment.
Army Col. Charles Patrick Murray Jr. spent three decades serving his country, but his most notable contribution came toward the beginning of his career. During the waning days of World War II in Europe, Murray took out dozens of enemy soldiers while trying
