Wounded --- Mediterranean Area

Second Lt. Thomas A. Murphy father, Frank, 109 Orchard Avenue, Ellwood City

Lt. Murphy Freed From German Camp
Message from War Department
Says Moscow Report Slates He
Has Been Released

   One of the happiest messages of the war came to Mr. and Mrs. Frank T. Murphy of 416 Winter Avenue. when a telegram arrived announcing that their only son, Lt, Thomas A. Murphy, member of a paratroop unit, who was captured by the Germans in Normandy on D-Day has been released as a prisoner of war, apparently due to the Russian advance. Lt. Murphy was one of the first troops to land in the invasion of France and was reported missing right after the invasion began. The parents were later advised that he was a prisoner of war. He had been in the fighting In Italy, and was wounded at Anzio. His family formerly resided in Ellwood City where Lt. Murphy was a star athlete and later played on the football team backfield at Westminster college:
   The message from Adjutant General: Ulio announcing his release gave no details and read as follows:

   "I am pleased to inform you that a report received by the U.S. Military Mission in Moscow states that your son, Lt. Thomas A. Murphy, previously reported a prisoner of war has been released from a German prisoner of war camp and is now presumed to be in Poland.  The War Department invites submission of a message not to exceed 25 words for attempted delivery to him.  Message should be addressed to Casualty Branch, AGO, 2515 Munitions Building, Washington, D.C.  Additional information will be furnished when received. /signed/ J. A. Ulio, Adjutant General.

   Mr. and Mrs. Murphy had only. recently  received word from their son that he had ben moved from his former prison camp, OFLAG 64 to Stalag 3A, which he stated was only 30 miles south of Berlin, and he was captain of one of the  camp basketball teams.

[New Castle News, New Castle, PA, 08 Mar 1945, Thu, Page 7]

FOUR PENNSYLVANIA ARE
   LIBERATED BY RUSSIANS

   WASHINGTON, March 16. --- UP --- Four Pennsylvanians were included today In a War Department list of American prisoners of war liberated by Russian armies. They are: Second Lt. Thomas A. Murphy, New Castle. Staff Sgt. Michael C. Klapak, Spangler, Second Lt. Raymond Mamien, and Second Lt. George W. Oughton, both of Philadelphia.

[The News-Herald (Franklin, Venango, PA, 16 Mar 1945, Fri. Page 2]

Lt Thomas Murphy
   Arrives At Home

   Lt. Thomas A. Murphy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank T, Murphy of 416 Winter avenue, former Ellwood City high and Westminster college grid star, who escaped from Oflag 64, near Szabin, Poland, on January 22, and with a large group of other American officers held captive by the Nazis, had made his way to the safety of the Russian lines, arrived home last night.
   Lt. Murphy, still in poor physical condition from his experiences in the Nazi prisoner camp for army-air ground force officers, is now getting what he has long dreamed of, the well-deserved rest he has earned. at his home here.
   An officer in the paratroops. Lt. Murphy was taken prisoner on D-Day when he landed with other American paratroops, back .of .Normandy beachhead. Since then he had been held in a prisoner of war camp by the Nazis, and when the opportunity presented itself last January he fled to safety.
   Lt. Murphy had seen previous action in Italy, and was wounded at Anzio.
   He will report to Ashville, N.C. for  re-assignment and further hospital treatment, if needed; at the expiration of a 21-day leave granted him.

[New Castle News, New Castle, PA, 18 Apr 1945, Wed, Page 6]

Lt. Murphy Visits
   Sister in Palm City

   PALM CITY. Lt. Thomas A. Murphy, army air forces, is visiting his sister, Mrs. Richard Newman, wife of Seaman First Class Newman of Brown Field.  []Lt. Murphy was captured by the Germans on D-Day, June 6, 1944, but escaped through the underground to Russia from whence he returned to the U. S. April, 1945. He was wounded in Africa and on the Anzio beachhead and was awarded two Presidential citations with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and three major battle stars. Lt. Murphy will report to the rehabilitation center at Nashville, Tenn., at the end of the month.

[The Chula Vista Star, Chula Vista, CA, 08 Jun 1945, Fri, Page 8]

Following his release from duty Murphy went back to school and continued playing collegiate football.

TOM MURPHY, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Murphy, 20 Harbor Street, finished his football career by being awarded a letter and [gold?] football at the annual Western Reserve Football banquet held Monday in Cleveland.  Tom played line-backer on defense and did some offensive work at fullback for Coach Mike Scarry.  He also won a letter in 1948.  The ex-paratroop captain and German prisoner played with the ETO champion 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment in 1945.  Murphy will graduate in February with a degree in psychology ...

[New Castle News, New Castle, PA, December 15, 1947]

Thomas A. Murphy registered for the draft ca. 1941.  He was inducted into the Army on 2 July 1942 at Pittsburgh, PA

Less than a year later, on 7 March 1943, he was discharged to accept a commission and the following day donned the rank insignia of a 2nd Lieutenant.

On 15 May 1944, 2nd Lt Murphy was attached to Hq 2nd, 508th PIR from the 504th PIR.  He was initially reported as missing in action as of 6 June 1944 but his status was changed to captured.

Following his return to the U.S., he was promoted to 1st Lt. on 5 November 1945.  Lt Thomas was discharged at Ft Bragg, NC on 19 December 1945 and placed on inactive reserve status.

He returned to college and graduated with a BS from Case Western Reserve University in June 1950.

However, he was recalled to active duty on 8 January 1951 due to the Korean Conflict.

On 5 January 1955 he was once again placed on inactive status as a Captain in the National Guard.

Pennsylvania WWII Veterans Bonus application for Thomas A. Murphy.