KENNETH E. MURPHY (then Sergeant), Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 502d Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. United States Army. For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed force in the Republic of Vietnam. Sergeant Murphy distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 9 November 1966 while serving as a squad leader with a recondo platoon on a search and destroy mission near Tuy Hoa. The unit had covered several thousand meters of terrain with negative results, until the point man finally came upon, and killed, a North Vietnamese soldier. When sporadic hostile fire was received from the left flank, Sergeant Murphy immediately led his squad in an assault on the insurgent positions. Suddenly, the entire hillside was raked by a devastating barrage, as North Vietnamese positions opened fire all around him. Seeing several soldiers fall wounded, Sergeant Murphy fearlessly ran through a hail of bullets to try and help them. Unable to reach his comrades on the first two attempts, he moved forward a third time, but was wounded in the head. Dazed, but undaunted, Sergeant Murphy succeeded in carrying one stricken soldier fifty meters to safety. When another man was hit, he again disregarded the extreme dangers to race back across the bullet-swept area. As sergeant Murphy returned with the man, he was again wounded by insurgent fire, but continued on until reaching friendly lines. Unmindful of his painful wounds, he then organized his men and led them in a fierce assault on the entrenched enemy. Dizzy from loss of blood and able to use only one arm, Sergeant Murphy gallantly crashed forward through dense foliage and personally killed three hostile soldiers with his rifle. His unimpeachable valor and boundless determination enabled his men to break out of the trap and overwhelm the insurgent force. Sergeant Murphy’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Mr. Murphy is a life member and resides in Wisconsin.