Murphy John Francis, Jr.

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John Francis, Jr. Murphy is honored on the following 1 monument(s) in our database:

Battling Bastards Of Bataan Monument

Name:

John Francis, Jr. Murphy

Rank:

Private

Serial Number:

16008558

Unit:

31st Infantry Regiment

Date of Death:

1942-07-11

State:

Wisconsin

Cemetery:

Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines

Plot:

Walls of the Missing

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Bronze Star, Purple Heart

Comments:

John Francis Murphy Jr. was born on March 10, 1922, in Oconto, Oconto County, Wisconsin. He was the son of John F. "Jack" Murphy and Violet G. Ragen Murphy. He served in the 31st Infantry Regiment as a Private during World War II.

After the fall of Bataan in the hands of the Japanese Army on April 9, 1942, Pvt Murphy was one of the 10,000 to 12,000 Americans who were forced to march over 60 miles under brutal conditions, resulting in 1,000 to 5,000 deaths due to starvation, dehydration, and abuse. Survivors were sent to Camp O'Donnell, where dire conditions, including overcrowding, malnutrition, and disease, caused an additional 1,500 to 2,300 American deaths within weeks. Those who survived faced ongoing hardships, including transfers to other camps and forced labor, where many continued to suffer or die.

Pvt Murphy was reported missing and officially declared dead on July 11, 1942. His name is memorialized in the Walls of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines. He also has a cenotaph in the Oconto Catholic Cemetery, Oconto, Oconto County, Wisconsin, USA.

Source of information: www.livescience.com