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Murphy, Joseph A. "Joe"

Date of birth:
October 22nd, 1913 (Camden/New Jersey, United States)
Date of death:
1990 (Tuckerton/New Jersey, United States)
Nationality:
American (1776 - present, Republic)

Biography

Servicenumber 33 328 584.

Joseph A. Murphy graduated in 1930 from the West Catholic High School, Phyladelphia and attended the Temple University.
He then started working with the Philadelphia Inquirer.
He entered service with the 111th Infantry Regiment of the Pennsylvania National Guard in October 1940.

On August 16th, 1942, Joseph A. Murphy entered service in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. He was placed with the Medical Detachment, 1272nd SCU. He left for New Foundland on October 27th, 1943, to arrive there on November 1st. On December 21st he was transported to Europe, where he arrived on January 8th, 1944. Murphy was operational with the 1st and 5th Infantry Division in Northern Africa, Normandy (second wave), Northern France, Luxembourg and Germany. He was wounded in the head near St. Lo in July 1944. After recovering of his wound and re-entering active service, he again was wounded by two machine-gun bullits in the abdomen near Saarbrücken, Germany on September 14th.
He returned to the United States on December 1st, 1944, where he arrived on December 17th.
Joseph A. Murphy was honorably discharged at the Separation Centre Fort Dix, New Jersey on August 17th, 1945.

Joseph Murphy after the war became a succesfull real estate broker in Tuckerton, New Jersey, where he passed away in 1990.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
1st Sergeant
Unit:
Medical Detachment, 1272nd Service Command Unit, U.S.Army
Awarded on:
August 17th, 1945
Honorable Service Lapel Button / Honorable Discharge Emblem
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
1st Sergeant
Received for bravery in action in France.
Bronze Star  Medal (BSM)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded for a headwound received in July 1944 near St. Lo.
Purple Heart
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded for receiving two machine gund bullit wounds on the abdomen on September 14th, 1944 near Saarbrücken, Germany.

Second Purple Heart, recevied in the form of a bronze oak leaf cluster to be worn on the ribbon of the first Purple Heart.
Purple Heart
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

Received with three bronze campaign stars for campaigns in Normandy, Northern France (GO 33 WD 45) and Luxembourg/Germany (GO 34 WD 45).
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal

Sources

  • Photo 1: Tom Murphy
  • - Enlisted Record and Report of Seperation Honorable Discharge
    - Press release Public Relations Office, Thomas M. England General Hospital, Atlantic City, New Jersey

Photo