World War II Honoree

William J. Murphy

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

New York City, New York

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: TECHNICIAN 5TH CLASS. GERMAN PRISONER OF WAR FOR 126 DAYS. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY MARCH 26, 1942 AT CAMP UPTON, YAPHANK, NEW YORK AND BECAME A PARATROOPER, WHO SERVED WITH C-COMPANY, 326TH AIRBORNE ENGINEER BATTALION, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. HE JUMPED INTO THE AREA OF ANGOVILLE-AU-PLAIN ON THE FRENCH COTENTIN PENINSULA IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS, 01:40, D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944, BATTLE OF NORMANDY. THIS WAS THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, CODE NAME: OPERATION OVERLORD. CAPTURED BY THE GERMAN ARMY DURING THE DAY OF THE ASSAULT IN THE VICINITY OF THE LA BARQUETTE LOCK, DOUVE RIVER BRIDGES OR THE WOODEN BRIDGES AT LE PORT NEAR BREVANDS, FRANCE. HE WAS HELD IN CAPTIVITY AS A PRISONER OF WAR AT THE GERMAN PRISONER OF WAR CAMP AND THE RENNES MILITARY HOSPITAL, RENNES, FRANCE. REPATRIATED AND RETURNED TO MILITARY CONTROL, OCTOBER 10, 1944 SHORTLY AFTER THE LIBERATION OF RENNES BY GENERAL PATTON, U.S. 3RD ARMY.