MURPHY, Thomas, Lieut. 1939-1967

MURPHY, ROEDESKE, MAHER, COLE, FREET

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 10/14/2012 at 02:23:32

#1:

Waterloo Soldier
Killed in Vietnam

A Waterloo Army officer who had been a first lieutenant only three days was killed Tuesday in Vietnam.

Dead is Lt. Thomas Murphy, 28, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Murphy, 317 Riehl St. His parents and his wife, Mrs. Gloria Roedeske Murphy, received word of his death about noon Wednesday.

Lt. Murphy was promoted from second to first lieutenant last Saturday. He celebrated his 28th birthday Sunday, March 12.

His wife said Wednesday that he was graduated from Officers Candidate School at Ft. Benning, Ga., on March 18, 1966. He left for Vietnam last Jan. 9. She said she had not yet received the exact details of his death but said that he was serving with the 25th Infantry near Cuchi in Operation Junction City.

Mrs. Murphy has been living with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Roedeske of Rt. 1, Dunkerton, since her husband's departure. The Murphys have three children: Raymond, 8; Randall, 7; and Roxanne, 3.

Thomas Murphy was born March 12, 1939, in Waucoma.

On May 10, 1958, at Fairbank, he married Gloria Roedeske.

Besides his parents, wife, and children, he is survived by four sisters: Colleen, 317 Riehl St.; Mrs. Robert Maher, Minneapolis; Mrs. Richard Cole, 142 Vincent Road, and Mrs. Dennis Freet, 225 E. 1st St.; and two brothers, Pvt. John Murphy, San Diego, Calif.; and Mike Murphy, 317 Riehl St.

[Waterloo Daily Courier, Thursday, March 23, 1967, Waterloo, Iowa]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#2:

Army 1st Lt. Thomas Murphy of Waterloo, killed by fragment of friendly aerial rocket artillery fired in support of ground action March 21, 1967

[Waterloo Courier March 26, 1967]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#3:

Burial: Mount Olivet Cemetery, Waterloo, Iowa.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#4:

Examples of his medals are:
Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service against hostile forces
Purple Heart Medal for wounds received in an armed conflict.
Combat Infantry Badge
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
The Republic of Vietnam, Military Merit Medal
The Republic of Vietnam, Gallantry Cross with Palm
Good Conduct Medal
-----------------------------------------------------------------
#5:

A Waterloo Army officer who had been a first lieutenant only three days was killed in Vietnam on Tuesday.

Dead is Lt. Thomas Murphy, 27, the son of Mr. And Mrs. Raymond Murphy, 317 Riel St. His parent and wife, Mrs. Gloria Roedeske Murphy, received word of his death about noon Thursday.

Lt. Murphy was promoted from second to first lieutenant last Saturday. He celebrated his 28th birthday, Sunday, March 12.

His wife said Thursday that he was graduated from Officers Candidate School at Ft. Benning, Georgia, on March 18, 1966. He left for Vietnam last January 9th. She said she had not yet received the exact details of his death but said that was serving with the 25th Infantry near Chu Chi in "Operation Junction City."

Mrs. Murphy has been living with her parents, Mr. And Mrs. Eugene Roedeske of Rt. 1, Dunkerton, since her husband's departure. The Murphys have three children, Raymond, 8; Randall, 7; and Roxanne, 3.

Thomas Murphy was born on Nov. 12, 1939, in Waucoma. On May 10, 1958 he married Gloria Roedeske.

Besides his parents, wife, and children, he is survived by four sisters, Colleen at home; Mrs. Robert Maher, Minneapolis; Mrs. Richard Cole, Waterloo; Mrs. Dennis Freet, Waterloo; and two brothers, Pvt. John Murphy, San Diego, Calf; and Mike Murphy at home.

[Obit from a memorial on Homestead.com (See link below) ]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: Both obituaries say he celebrated his 28th birthday on Sunday March 28. March 28 was not a Sunday. The 2nd obit says his birthday was Nov. 12, which WAS a Sunday.

Homestead Link
 

Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen