Lieutenant General John R. Murphy
USMA 1942
Lieutenant General John R. Murphy (USAF, Retired) died 13 January 2000, in San Antonio. He was born September 19, 1918 in Minot, ND, and had been a San Antonio resident since 1975.
General Murphy graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1942. His long distinguished military career spanned over 30 years. He served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. In WWII, General Murphy was a fighter pilot, fighter squadron commander and fighter group commander in Europe, flying 139 combat missions in the P-47 aircraft. He rose from 2nd Lt. in 1942 to Lt. Col. in 1944 - warrior leader. When the Korean War started in June 1950, Murphy organized the Tactical Air Control System which was used to stem the tide of the North Korean invasion. He then flew combat with the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing in F-51s. Later, as the commander of the 49th Fighter-Bomber Group, he flew F-80s for a total of 119 combat missions. Gen. Murphy finished his Korean tour as Director of the 5th Air Force Joint Operations Center. Through the 1950s and 1960s, Gen. Murphy commanded a number of fighter groups/wings and an air division. At the beginning of the Vietnam Conflict, he was the deputy commander, Seventeenth/Thirteen Air Force, Thailand. In August 1966, he was appointed deputy and later Director, of Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. General Murphy became vice commander of the Air Training Command at Randolph AFB in July 1970. He returned to Korea in 1973 to become Chief of Staff, United Nations Command/U.S. Forces. He retired from active duty in September 1975.
General Murphy's military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit (three oak leaf clusters), the Distinguished Flying Cross three oak leaf clusters), Air Medal (38 oak leaf clusters) and numerous citations and campaign medals. He was a command pilot and a rated parachutist. He was a member of the Daedalians, a fraternal order of military pilots, and a member of the St. Pius the 10th Catholic Church.
A son, Michael, preceded General Murphy in death. He is survived by his wife, Ann; a Son, Chip; Stepdaughter, Bonny Miller, Dallas; Stepson, Fred McGinnis, Houston: a Sister, Margaret, brother, Charles Murphy, and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Sunday from 5:00 PM. until 9:00 PM. with a Bible Vigil Service to be held at 7:00 PM. at Colonial Chapel Hill Funeral Home. The Memorial Service and Mass will be celebrated Monday, 17 January 2000, at 1:00 PM. at St Pius the 10th Catholic Church with Monsignor Liam Brosnan as the Celebrant. Graveside Services and Interment with Full Military Honors will follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with Msgr. Brosnan officiating. Memorial Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or a favorite charity. Arrangements by:
COLONIAL CHAPEL HILL
FUNERAL HOME
AND
MEMORIAL PARK
7735 Gibbs-Sprawl Rd.
599-2O35
(Reprinted from San Antonio Express News, Sunday, January 16, 2000)