In early 1939, Bernard McMurray was traveling aboard a Greyhound bus, returning to his ship, the USS Idaho Battleship in Long Beach, CA. While on this bus trip he met his future wife, Mary "Saxon" Shewalter. She was on her way to visit relatives in San Diego, CA. They courted in San Diego for 6 weeks of weekends and by mail through 1939. While Bernard's ship was in dry-dock in the Bremerton Navy Yard they married on Jan. 8, 1940 at Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Bremerton, WA.

Three weeks after the wedding Bernard's ship went to Hawaii and he was transferred to the USS Salt Lake City, CA25, home ported at Pearl Harbor after fleet maneuvers in 1940. Saxon went back to Purdue and graduated. They were able to be together in Oct. through March in Long Beach, CA., then Saxon went back to Indiana to await the birth of their first child.

In 1941, Bernard & Saxon became parents while the SLC was visiting in Australia. On Dec. 9, 1941 Saxon was in CA. with tickets to sail to Hawaii when the Japanese changed her plans. Her words in regards to this were "There's no need to describe the waiting, worry and loneliness of those years. Those of you who lived those times need no reminders and those who have not experienced them, would not understand."

They were able to be together only occasionally during WWII while the ship was in port for battle damage repairs after the 2nd Savo Battle at night and the Komandorski Battle on March 26th, 1943. While the ship was at Mare Island Naval Shipyard at Vallejo, CA., they were able to be together for 6 weeks.

After returning to the SLC and in the Alaskan area, Ben was transferred to Boiler School at Philadelphia Naval shipyard and they were together another 6 weeks. The Ben was assigned to new construction at New Orleans for another 6 weeks and the commissioning detail of the USS Zaurak AK117, a Liberty cargo ship being re-built to carry 1000 troops plus cargo and ultimately sent to the South Pacific to move troops and cargo for 16 months among the Philippines, Leyte, Samar, Tinyan, Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. While off loading troops and cargo, he watched daily the SLC bombarding Iwo Jima & Okinawa for several months.

Ben & Saxon were blessed with another daughter during this time and while Zaurak was returning to Seattle for repairs, the first "A" bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Upon arrival at Seattle, there was Saxon on the dock to welcome home Ben and the Zaurak. A few days later the second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, followed by the end of the war. Ben & Saxon danced in the streets.

Ben was discharged and tried civilian life for about 2 1/2 months. After spending 7 1/2 years in the Navy, they talked it over and he re-enlisted in 1945 to go on to retirement. He was sent to Philadelphia to commission the USS Valley Forge (CV45). They were able to be together for more than 2 years. During this time, their third daughter was born.

Four more ships, 13 years, including two tours of recruiting duty and Ben retired from the Navy.