VIETNAM - MURPHY, BOBBY LOUIS

Murphy, Bobby Louis

VIETNAM - MURPHY, BOBBY LOUIS
MURPHY, BOBBY LOUIS

Rank: Private First Class

Unit: K Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment

MOS: 11C – Indirect Fire Infantryman

Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge

Unit awards: Meritorious Unit Citation, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device

Note: Operation Akron

Enlisted by: Selected Service

Date of birth: 25-Nov-1943

Hometown: Washington, District Of Columbia

Marital status: Married to Donie Murphy

Campaign: Vietnam Conflict

Start of tour: 28-Oct-1966

Incident date: 19-Jun-1967

Date of casualty: 19-Jun-1967

Age at death: 23

Cause of death: Hostile, died. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
Bobby Louis Murphy was on ambush patrol when engaged hostile force in firefight.

Ten Blackhorse troopers died as a result of this incident:
SP4 Raymond Desmond Crowder Jr
SP4 William Jerry Dillon
PFC Edward Lee Fails Jr
SP4 Russell Louis Filiberti
SP4 Blaine Wilson Landers
PFC Bobby Louis Murphy
PFC Charles Howard Richards Jr
SSG Wayne Thomas Schumacher
SP5 William Norman Scott
PFC Leonard Vito Tedesco

Location of fatality: Phuoc Tuy, South Vietnam, Slope 30

Place of interment: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, USA

View this soldier‘s Find a Grave page (opens in a new window)

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 22E 016 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)

 

BRONZE STAR MEDAL

BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS BOBBY LOUIS MURPHY
19 JUNE 1967
K TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON

11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT

Private First Class Murphy distinguished himself by valorous actions on 19 June 1967, while serving with his unit on an ambush patrol about 400 meters outside of the night perimeter of the friendly force.  In the early morning hours, the main force was attacked by an estimated battalion of Viet Cong, and Private Murphy immediately attempted to reach a more favorable position in order to repel the aggressors. At that moment Private Murphy was hit and critically wounded by a hostile round. He wisely decided not to return fire, because this would have jeopardized the remainder of the patrol by catching then in a withering crossfire. Private Murphy alerted his comrades to the danger, and then, in spite of the intense pain of his wounds, he waited in complete silence. For nearly an hour Private Murphy courageously and selflessly hid his pain until he succumbed to his injuries, His silence prevented the hostile forces from killing or injuring his fellow soldiers. Private First Class Murphy’s bravery and devotion to duty are in keeping the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Headquarters, 9th Infantry Division General Orders No. 3067 (6 July 1967)