Frederick C. Murphy

Private First Class Frederick Coleman Murphy, Medal of Honor

Frederick Coleman Murphy was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on 27 July 1918 and grew up in the nearby communities of Quincy and Weymouth. He graduated from Thayer Academy in Braintree in 1939 and later attended the University of Pennsylvania. He married his high-school sweetheart, Virginia Maxwell. (National Archives⁠)

Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Murphy attempted to join the United States Army but failed two physical examinations because of a back condition and was classified as unfit for service. Determined to enlist, he underwent corrective surgery and was finally accepted into the Army in November 1943. He trained as a medical and surgical technician and was assigned as an aidman to the Medical Detachment of the 259th Infantry Regiment, 65th Infantry Division. (National Archives⁠)

The 65th Infantry Division entered combat in Europe during the final months of the Second World War. On the morning of 18 March 1945, Murphy accompanied the 259th Infantry during a dawn assault against the Siegfried Line at Saarlautern, Germany. Shortly after the attack began, he was wounded in the right shoulder. Refusing evacuation, he continued forward through heavy machine-gun, mortar, and artillery fire, treating casualties as the infantry advanced. (Army⁠)

When the company entered a densely sown anti-personnel minefield and suffered numerous casualties, Murphy went into the minefield to reach the wounded. While moving between casualties, he stepped on a mine that severed one of his feet. Despite the catastrophic injury, severe blood loss, and intense pain, he refused evacuation and continued crawling from soldier to soldier, administering first aid.

Murphy was attempting to reach another wounded man when he detonated a second mine and was killed. His courage and complete disregard for his own safety enabled him to save many of his comrades. For his actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor under War Department General Orders No. 21, dated 26 February 1946. (Army⁠)

Murphy was 26 years old. He was buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery near Saint-Avold, France. His daughter was born approximately two months after his death. His Medal of Honor was presented to his family at Quincy City Hall on 27 February 1946. (Wikipedia⁠)

His sacrifice has been commemorated through several namesakes. The United States Army transport Pvt. Frederick C. Murphy, a school in Weymouth, Murphy Barracks in Germany, and the Frederick C. Murphy Federal Center in Waltham, Massachusetts, were named in his honour. (National Archives⁠)