Pfc. Walter F. Murphy Jr was born in Maywood, Illinois, on July 7, 1916, to Walter F. Murphy Sr. and Alma Murphy, and had a sister and a brother. His family lived at 1611 South 2nd Avenue, Maywood, Illinois. Walter graduated from Garfield School, Proviso Township High School in 1936, and he attended Wheaton College and Elmhurst College but left school after his second year and worked at the Fair Store, at State Street and Adams Street, in Chicago.
When the Selective Service Act took became law, he registered for the draft on October 16, 1940, and named his mother as his contact person. When it became apparent that he would be drafted into the army, he enlisted on December 13, 1941, at Camp Grant, Illinois. He was issued the serial number 36 309 154. It is known Camp Grant was selected for the training of medics. Before that the medics received hands on training by the doctors assigned to a unit’s medical detachment. Walter records show he was trained as a medic. At some point, he was assigned to the medical detachment of the 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division.
On June 8, 1943, the 45t Infantry Division sailed from Hampton Roads, Virginia, to French Morocco and trained for the invasion of Sicily. The 45th landed on Sicily on July 10, 1943. It fought its way across Sicily until it was withdrawn from combat. It would next take part in the Battle for Italy. The division landed in Italy and fought a 20 day battle against the Germans. It slowly fought its way to Monte Casino and then was pulled from the font lines on January 9, 1944. It was next sent into action as part of the force that landed at Anzio on the 22nd. The Americans failed to take advantage of surprising the Germans and had to fight a long slow battle off the beaches. The breakout came on May 23, 1944, and the 45th fought its across the Tiber River and entered Rome on June 4th. While this was going on, his mother died suddenly on June 9, 1944.
The 45th was once again pulled off the line to take part in the invasion of southern France. While the men were training for the invasion, they were given rest and relaxation. What is known is that Walter was swimming at an approved beach and somehow drowned on July 5, 1944. It is not known that his father was notified of Walter’s death. It is known that Walter was buried in Plot E, Row 5, Grave 84, in the Mount Soprano Cemetery, Paestum, Italy.
His parents received a letter, dated February 27, 1947, that told them the location of Walter’s grave in the US Military Cemetery, and it also that they would be receiving another letter with information on their options for Walter’s final burial. That letter arrived, dated April 2, 1947, and asked his parents to fill-out and return an enclosed form indicating where they wanted Walter to be buried. The completed form was received by the Office of the Quartermaster General, Washington DC, on April 24, 1947, and indicated his parents wanted Walter returned to the United States for burial.
On May 25, 1948, Walter ws exhume from the USMC Soprano, Italy and sent to the Naples Port Morgue where they were casketed. His casket was placed on the USAT Carroll Victory on June 24, 1948, and the ship sailed the same day. The ship arrived in the New York Port of Entry on July 6. 1948. From there, his casket was sent, with a military escort to the Quartermaster Corps Distribution Center #8, Chicago, and arrived on the 9th. On September 1, 1948, in a military hearse, his casket was taken to the Paul W. Senne Funeral Home in Maywood. Pvt. Walter F. Murphy was buried at the Mount Emblem Cemetery, Elmhurst, Illinois, on September 4, 1948, in Section A, Lot 355, Grave 4.
