Staff Sergeant James M. Murphy was born on 9 August 1939. He enlisted in the US Army on 7 July1958. He was assigned to the 82d Medical Company, 82d Airborne Division. He attended the 82d Abn Div Basic Airborne Course and the 18th Airborne Corps Medical School. In 1959 he was attached to the 77th Special Forces Group and attended the 77th SFG Surgical Research Lab. He also attended Jungle Warfare School, Ft Sherman, CZ; Cold Weather Operations and Ski Instructor Course, Ft Greely, Alaska and the Special Warfare Center Jumpmaster Course. He was discharged as a Medical Specialist 4th Class on 6 July 1961. He served in the United States Army Reserve from 1961 until 1964.
He enlisted in Company D, 16th Special Forces Group (Airborne) RIARNG on 15 March 1965. In 1965 he volunteered for a two-year tour on Active Duty.
He served in Viet Nam with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) for fourteen months. He was discharged as a Staff Sergeant from the 10th Special Forces Group on 19 July 1968.
He was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star for Valor, the Air Medal, the Purple Heart Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
Staff Sergeant Murphy died on 18 August 1995 at his home in Hebron, Maine.
