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
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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)