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Personal info

Full name
MURPHY, William Joseph Jr
Date of birth
25 November 1924
Age
20
Place of birth
Valentine, Cherry County, Nebraska
Hometown
Valentine, Cherry County, Nebraska

Military service

Service number
37482390
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Squad Leader
Unit
C Company,
1st Battalion,
318th Infantry Regiment,
80th Infantry Division
Awards
Silver Star,
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
25 December 1944
Place of death
In the vicinity of Tintange, Belgium

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
Plot Row Grave
E 8 72

Immediate family

Members
William J. Murphy Sr. (father)
Roxie M. (Garner) Murphy (mother)
Mary R. Murphy (sister)

More information

S/Sgt William J. Murphy Jr. graduated from Valentine High School in 1943

He enlisted on 1 June 1943.

He was awarded the Silver Star Medal posthumously for his actions on the day of his death. The citation reads: On 25 December 1944 in Belgium, S/Sgt Murphy, while leading his rifle squad in an assault was delayed in advancing by fire from an enemy machine gun. Locating the gun, he immediately directed and led the assault on it by charging forward and hurling a grenade which completely disabled the crew and destroyed the gun.

He was killed by artillery shell fragments.

Source of information: Leo Minne, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1930/1940 Census / U.S. WWII Hospital Admission Card Files / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, www.80thdivision.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Luxembourg American Cemetery, Valentine High School 1943