JOSEPH A. MURPHY, CAPT, USN (RET.)

Joseph Murphy '09

Date of birth: December 20, 1887

Date of death: February 28, 1942

Age: 54

Lucky Bag

From the 1909 Lucky Bag:

Joseph Augustine Murphy

Boston, Massachusetts

"Spuds," "Mike"

A thoroughbred Irishman from the "ould sod," and is proud of it. Brought with him the original Boston twang and a large supply of Irish ditties. An athlete in a small way, being one of the mainstays on all the class teams, and showed his prowess Second Class year by winning the middle-weight boxing championship. One of the charter members of the Beef Trust, and has an eating capacity almost equal to that of an ostrich. Has a most fetching smile and could be a great fusser. However, has his own independent ideas concerning the fair sex, and is not of the opinion that "the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world." Never lets his studies worry him in the least, and has seldom been known to bone. With his versatile conversation and happy disposition, "Spuds" is always welcomed in any crowd, and his winning smile is a sure cure for the blues.

Delights in his appropriate monogram:
"JAM."

Buzzard. Class Baseball. Class Football. Class Basketball. Middle-weight Boxing Champion (2).

Joseph Augustine Murphy

Boston, Massachusetts

"Spuds," "Mike"

A thoroughbred Irishman from the "ould sod," and is proud of it. Brought with him the original Boston twang and a large supply of Irish ditties. An athlete in a small way, being one of the mainstays on all the class teams, and showed his prowess Second Class year by winning the middle-weight boxing championship. One of the charter members of the Beef Trust, and has an eating capacity almost equal to that of an ostrich. Has a most fetching smile and could be a great fusser. However, has his own independent ideas concerning the fair sex, and is not of the opinion that "the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world." Never lets his studies worry him in the least, and has seldom been known to bone. With his versatile conversation and happy disposition, "Spuds" is always welcomed in any crowd, and his winning smile is a sure cure for the blues.

Delights in his appropriate monogram:
"JAM."

Buzzard. Class Baseball. Class Football. Class Basketball. Middle-weight Boxing Champion (2).

Loss

Joseph was lost on February 28, 1942 when the Qantas flying boat he was aboard was shot down by a Japanese bomber over the Java Sea while en route from Java to Broome, Australia. He was a naval observer to the Netherlands East Indies, and was aboard with the Consul-General for the Netherlands in Malaya and several of his staff and their families.

The Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps of 1942 lists him as attaining the rank of Captain on August 17, 1928, of retiring on June 30, 1937, and of having 1 year, 7 months, 7 days of active service since retirement.

His wife was listed as next of kin. He was also survived by at least one son, Joseph, Jr. He is listed on the killed in action panel in Memorial Hall.

Career

Joseph was commanding officer of USS Hopkins (Destroyer No. 6) from December 1914 to September 1916 and of USS Melvin (DD 335) from October 1926 to July 1927.

Navy Cross

From Hall of Valor:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain Joseph Augustine Murphy, United States Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession as Assistant to the Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery during World War I.
Service: Navy
Division: Bureau of Medicine and Surgery

Legion of Merit

From Hall of Valor:

(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Captain Joseph Augustine Murphy, United States Navy, was awarded the Legion of Merit (Posthumously) for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Naval Observer at Sandakan, British North Borneo, and the Netherlands East Indies, on 1 March 1942.
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 356 (November 1946)
Service: Navy
Rank: Captain

Memorial Hall Error

Joseph was on the retired list, but this is not reflected in Memorial Hall.

Class of 1909

Joseph is one of 9 members of the Class of 1909 on Virtual Memorial Hall.