Gen. Alfred M. Gray, the 29th commandant of the Marine Corps, is remembered today by his contributions to the modernization of intelligence and communication with a trophy in his name. The Alfred M. Gray Trophy is given to an active-duty Marine captain serving as a Communications Information Systems Officer for outstanding contributions to the Marine Corps mission.
The 2017 recipient for the award was Capt. Raymond Takor, who received the award based on his exceptional occupational field knowledge, dynamic leadership, enthusiasm and overall contributions to institutional initiatives in both the communications and aviation’s command and control systems communities during his time as the Marine Wing Communications Squadron (MWCS) 38 assistant operations officer and company B commander.
“When I was told I would be receiving this award, I thought about the collective output of my squadron,” said Capt. Raymond Takor, the assistant operations officer for MWCS-38, Marine Air Control Group (MACG) 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. “On my list of achievements for the award, there were accomplishments that one man simply can’t do by himself.”
Takor explained his role in the unit’s success was to influence all the Marines, who he believes truly deserve this award.
“I am just the face of an excellent group of Marines who live on a culture of hard work,” said Takor, who was humbled by the recognition.
“Takor unflaggingly sets the highest standards of performance and displays officership qualities that peers and subordinates universally seek to emulate,” said Lt. Col. Koichi Takagi, the commanding officer of MWCS-38. “His high first-class physical fitness test and combat fitness test scores, multiple expert qualifications on rifle and pistol, and career-long dedication to the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program as a black-belt instructor, highlights his dedication to physical fitness and a combat-focused mindset.”
Many of Takor’s colleagues believe he is praiseworthy of this recognition.
“Capt. Takor is a fantastic leader and deserving of this award because of his leadership capabilities and style,” said Capt. Benjamin Butler, the executive officer of MWCS-38. “Capt. Takor is very deflective of the praise and glory of the award using it as an opportunity to uplift his Marines, which is commendable, but he is still well deserving of this award because not only is he a phenomenal leader, he is also a teacher.”
Takor attributes his military and personal success to his family and role models, as well as his noncommissioned officers, staff noncommissioned officers and fellow officers during his time as an enlisted Marine before he received his commission.
“My time as an enlisted Marine allowed me to take on leadership roles from a different perspective and allowed me to be a more empathetic and effective officer,” said Takor. “My role as an officer has been greatly enhanced by the influences I’ve had in my life and prepared me to lead with my own unique style.”
“Capt. Takor is among the top five percent of Marine oficers I have worked with during my 26 years of active duty, and the ideal candidate for the Alfred M. Gray Trophy,” said Takagi. “His unique combination of technical proficiency, servant leadership, keen judgment and enthusiasm is vastly ahead of his peers.”