ROBERT J. MURPHY, CDR, USN
Robert Murphy '43
Lucky Bag
From the 1943 Lucky Bag:
ROBERT JAMES MURPHY
Cleveland, Ohio
Big Murph's your ideal fightin' Irishman; and by "Big" Murph, we mean he's really big—all over. His talents go beyond athletics. We've laughed through bull sessions with him, and swear that vaudeville lost an ace comedian when Murph climbed into sailor pants. Bob's curly head with those laughing Irish eyes nearly went under in academics at times, but when it "was sink or swim," he really made knots. Kinda suspect Murph of carrying a Blarney Stone to use on his drags. "Quality not quantity" is his attitude toward the lassies. And knock 'em cold he does—Blarney Stone or no.
He was a member of the basketball team.
The Class of 1943 was graduated in June 1942 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
ROBERT JAMES MURPHY
Cleveland, Ohio
Big Murph's your ideal fightin' Irishman; and by "Big" Murph, we mean he's really big—all over. His talents go beyond athletics. We've laughed through bull sessions with him, and swear that vaudeville lost an ace comedian when Murph climbed into sailor pants. Bob's curly head with those laughing Irish eyes nearly went under in academics at times, but when it "was sink or swim," he really made knots. Kinda suspect Murph of carrying a Blarney Stone to use on his drags. "Quality not quantity" is his attitude toward the lassies. And knock 'em cold he does—Blarney Stone or no.
He was a member of the basketball team.
The Class of 1943 was graduated in June 1942 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Obituary
From the Class of 1943 anniversary book "25 years later…":
Murph was born on 22 July, 1920 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was appointed from Ohio and entered the Academy on 8 June, 1939. After graduation he reported to the cruiser USS BROOKLYN aboard which he participated in the landings in North Africa and Sicily. In September 1943 he reported aboard the cruiser USS BILOXI in the Pacific. On this cruiser Murph participated in combat operations at Eniwetok, Kwajalein, Saipan, Tinian, Guam and the Battle of the Philippines. He was detached to conduct flight training at Ottumwa, Iowa, Pensacola and Banana River, Florida which he completed in February 1947 when he reported to Patrol Squadron FORTY. His next assignments were duty as a test pilot at Patuxent River, Maryland, Executive Officer of Utility Squadron FOUR and duty at the NROTC Unit at the University of Wisconsin. These duties were followed by duty in the Office of Naval Operations and Patrol Squadron FIFTY-SIX. It was during this last duty on 27 January, 1959, that Murph, as Patrol Plane Commander, lost in an aircraft accident off NAS, Norfolk, Virginia.
He wore the American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp, American Area Campaign with one bronze star, European-African-Middle Eastern with two bronze stars, Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign with four bronze stars, Expert Rifle, Expert Pistol, WW II Victory and the Korean Defense Medal. He is survived by his wife Catherine Pearl and two sons, David James in the School of Engineering at Auburn University and Thomas Robert who is majoring in Business Administration also at Auburn. “Kitty” lives at 5602 Hickson Road, Jacksonville, Florida where she is employed by the William A. Watson Corporation, Realtors.
Robert is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
