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Paul William Murphy Jr. papers

 Collection
Collection number: ahc.MSS1278

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of letters written by Murphy to friends and family while he was attending Camden Military Academy; during his early Army training; and while he was in Vietnam. There are also letters written to Murphy from his family and friends, particularly his girlfriend, Jennifer Jones, during the same time frame. Also included are his awards and citations; the telegram the family received notifying them of Murphy’s death; and letters of condolence from high-ranking Army officials such as General William C. Westmoreland (1914-2005), as well as Georgia Senator Herman Talmadge (1913-2002) and President Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994). There are signed and autographed yearbooks from Briarcliff High School and Camden Military Academy. There is also a Fort Benning yearbook, as well as a 1961 Army Field Manual titled A Soldier’s Guide. Of particular interest is a small scrapbook of copies of photographs of Murphy taken throughout his life; newspaper clippings showing his family receiving his Army medals posthumously; and images of his grave site.

Dates

  • approximately 1953-1971, undated

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. All requests to publish, quote, or reproduce must be submitted through the Kenan Research Center.

Biographical / Historical

Paul William Murphy Jr. (1950-1969) was born in Japan to Paul William Murphy (1916-1997) and Mary Neundorfer Murphy (1922-2012), while his father was stationed there with the United States Army. He had two siblings, Michaelae Patricia (1953?- ) and William J. (1954?- ). He attended Briar Vista School and Briarcliff High School in DeKalb County, Georgia, and Camden Military Academy in Camden, South Carolina. He left Camden Military Academy after his junior year and joined the United States Army in late 1968. He completed basic training at Fort Benning (later Fort Moore), Georgia, on March 7, 1969, and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Polk, Louisiana, on June 20, 1969. He was sent to Vietnam on July 30, 1969, and assigned to Company D, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry. On September 14, 1969, Murphy was part of a detail tasked with placing explosive charges along the company’s defensive perimeter. The charges detonated prematurely, instantly killing Murphy and seven other D Company soldiers and injuring 10 more. Murphy is buried in the military cemetery at Fort Sam Houston in Texas.

Extent

.83 linear ft. (two document cases and one flat file)

Language

English

Arrangement

This collection is arranged alphabetically by titles supplied by staff.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift, 2019

Related Materials

Artifacts pertaining to this collection are housed separately. Please see an archivist for information about accessing these materials.

Bias in Description

As archivists, we acknowledge our role as stewards of information. We choose how individuals and organizations are represented and described in our archives. We are not neutral, and bias is reflected in our descriptions, which may not accurately convey the racist or offensive aspects of collection materials. Archivists make mistakes and might use poor judgment. In working with this collection, we often re-use language used by the former owners of the material. This language provides context but often includes bias and prejudices reflective of the time in which it was created. The Kenan Research Center’s work is ongoing to implement reparative language where Library of Congress subject terms are inaccurate and obsolete.

Kenan Research Center welcomes feedback and questions regarding our archival descriptions. If you encounter harmful, offensive, or insensitive terminology or descriptions, please let us know by emailing reference@atlantahistorycenter.com. Your comments are essential to our work to create inclusive and thoughtful description.

Content Advisory

This collection contains original unedited versions of all content. Some material may contain depictions of violence, offensive language, or negative stereotypes reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. There may be instances of racist language and depictions, particularly regarding African Americans. These items are presented as part of the historical record for the purpose of education and research. The viewpoints expressed in this collection do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of the Atlanta History Center or any of its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers.

Processing Information

This collection was processed in 2024.

Title
Paul William Murphy Jr. papers
Author
Sue VerHoef
Date
July 2024
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Kenan Research Center at Atlanta History Center Repository

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