Lester Gray was born on July 27, 1922, in Jefferson City, Missouri. He enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Navy on August 11, 1942, and was commissioned an Ensign and designated a Naval Aviator on June 16, 1943. After completing additional training he joined VF-10 as an F6F Hellcat pilot and deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) from January to June 1944. He then transitioned to the F4U Corsair and deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid (CV-11) from March to August 1945. During his deployment aboard the Enterprise, Lt Gray was credited with the destruction of 3.25 enemy aircraft in aerial combat while flying the F6F Hellcat. He added an additional 2 air victories to his total while flying F4U Corsairs from the Intrepid, for a total of 5.25 enemy aircraft destroyed during World War II. Lt Gray left active duty after the war, serving in the Navy Reserve until he was activated for the Korean War on October 22, 1950. He flew F4U Corsairs with VF-921 from the aircraft carrier USS Tarawa (CV-40) in the Mediterranean Sea during 1951 and 1952, and he left active duty and returned to the Navy Reserve on March 4, 1953. While in the reserves, Commander Gray served at NAS Lambert Field in St. Louis, Missouri; at NAAS Kingsville, Texas; and at NAS Dallas, Texas; before retiring from the Navy Reserve on June 1, 1973.