SPECIALIST 4TH CLASS JOHN ANTHONY MURPHY; U.S. ARMY

DOB/DOD: May 6, 1950 (Bronx, NY) – present
CHILDREN: Two daughters
LOCAL ADDRESS: Grumman Avenue, Norwalk
ENLISTMENT: July 29, 1969
DISCHARGE: July 28, 1975
MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY (MOS): 11D20; Armor Recon Specialist
UNIT: B Company, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry, 1st Regiment of Dragoons (Black Hawk)

DECORATIONS: Recipient of the Army Commendation with one oak leaf cluster, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm, Marksmanship Ribbon (M-16), and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart

Wounded in action on May 10, 1970. Narrative submitted by John Murphy:

May 10, 1970: While evacuating an injured toddler and family from a nearby village, we formed a landing zone (LZ) for a medevac chopper, and while dropping off the family with the medic under a tree, we pulled up into a defensive position and struck a land mine. This blew up the right side of the M113 (A CAV) where I was sitting on the right rear behind an M60. I was thrown 20 feet into the air, and I came down into the hatch and landed on my head, which knocked me out cold. When I came to and had night vision, I was feeling for my face and body parts as I felt so much wetness, and thorough it was blood. It turns out the battery blew up, and I was wet with acid. My eyesight returned, and I saw a pair of boots and legs leaving the vehicle. It was our platoon leader, leaving me and Michael Johnson lying on a pile of smoking ammo. I checked his carotid artery, and he was alive. I picked him up and lay him on the back deck, then rolled him off and dropped him 7 feet onto the ground, where he remained out cold. Mike came to and was medevaced to Chu Lai Hospital in I Corp as 1-1 Cavalry assigned to the Americal Division. Orders came down for a Purple Heart because my right knee was cut open, and my C1 through C7 cervical spine disks were compressed. I was paralyzed for 4 days. After the swelling went down, I was able to move again.