Memorial set for WWII CC Richard J. Murphy, Jr

Marine Staff Sgt. Richard Murphy of Washington, D.C., performs his war correspondent duties during WWII. (Photo courtesy of Gerard Murphy)

Funeral service for combat correspondent, Marine Corps Reserve Staff Sgt. Richard J. Murphy, killed during World War II will be held 11 a.m., Dec. 1 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 4101 Norbeck Rd., Rockville, MD 20853, followed by interment, with full military honors, at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 13801 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20906.

We ask that all CommStrat and USMCCCA members in the area attend, if possible, to honor this Marine, one of our own.

Murphy, originally listed as Missing in Action, 18 June 1944. His remains were apparently hastily buried in a trench on Red Beach 1 as “unknown”, with no identifying marks or tags. In 1950, the trench was exhumed and his remains, re-tagged as “X-15” were sent to the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Philippines. In 2014, his remains were re-exhumed and a positive identification was made by use of dental records.