ROBERT J. P. MURPHY, LTJG, USN
Robert Murphy '45
Lucky Bag
From the 1945 Lucky Bag:
Robert James Patrick Murphy
Superior, Wisconsin
He ambled in with the rest of the crowd,
He was really a sight to behold.
How he balanced himself on those bow-legs
Is a secret he never has told.
"A bow-legged Irishman," we said "from out West;
Just fresh from his saddle and girth."
We were wrong, so we learned
Ere the first day had turned—
Wisconsin was the state of his birth.
If you craved an argument, pie race or fib
"Murf" was the man for the task.
He could rave on for ours, no script, just ad lib.
In the limelight he sure loved to bask.
Now don't get us wrong, "Murf" is tops.
His friendliness, loyalty, and spunk
Are traits that we find
Make us all like his kind
The rest of his stuff is all bunk.
Company Football 3, 1945; Orchestra 4; Trident 4; Reception Committee 3
The Class of 1945 was graduated in June 1944 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Robert James Patrick Murphy
Superior, Wisconsin
He ambled in with the rest of the crowd,
He was really a sight to behold.
How he balanced himself on those bow-legs
Is a secret he never has told.
"A bow-legged Irishman," we said "from out West;
Just fresh from his saddle and girth."
We were wrong, so we learned
Ere the first day had turned—
Wisconsin was the state of his birth.
If you craved an argument, pie race or fib
"Murf" was the man for the task.
He could rave on for ours, no script, just ad lib.
In the limelight he sure loved to bask.
Now don't get us wrong, "Murf" is tops.
His friendliness, loyalty, and spunk
Are traits that we find
Make us all like his kind
The rest of his stuff is all bunk.
Company Football 3, 1945; Orchestra 4; Trident 4; Reception Committee 3
The Class of 1945 was graduated in June 1944 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Loss
Robert was lost when his AD Skyraider collided with a squadron-mate's on October 13, 1949, over the Pacific approximately 65 miles northwest of San Francisco.
From the January 1950 issue of Shipmate:
It is with deep regret that I report the death of Bob Murphy. Murph was killed as the result of a crash at sea off San Francisco, following a mid-air collision during gunnery practice. I spent three years with Murph in the same company and all those that knew him will never forget him. That Irish face and sense of humor won and kept Murph a host of friends. He is survived by his wife, Joy Leone Murphy, and three children. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. James Murphy of Superior, Wisconsin.
Robert was a member of the Attack Squadron (VA) 195, based at Alameda Naval Air Station.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Robert was vice-president of the junior class at Superior High School in 1937. He graduated in 1938 and attended college before the Naval Academy.
His father was a car distributor on a steam railroad; mother Louise.
Robert's Find A Grave page is here.
Photographs
Related Articles
Robert Thomsen '45 and Phillip Harward '45 were also in 7th Company.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
