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
Westminster College Gridder, Taken
Prisoner On D-Day. Who
Escaped Nazis, Is 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.
|