Kenneth E. Murphy
Sergeant, U.S. Army

On 9 November 1966, Sergeant Kenneth E. Murphy was serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 502nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, in South Vietnam.

On that day, SGT Murphy was 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, SGT Murphy led his squad in an assault on the insurgent positions. The entire hillside was raked by a barrage as North Vietnamese positions opened fire all around him. Seeing several soldiers fall wounded, SGT Murphy ran through a hail of bullets to try and help them. Unable to reach his comrades on the first 2 attempts, he moved forward a 3rd time, but was wounded in the head. Dazed, SGT Murphy succeeded in carrying a stricken soldier 50 meters to safety. When another man was hit, he again ignored the dangers to race back across the bullet-swept area. As SGT Murphy returned with the man, he was again wounded by insurgent fire, but continued on until reaching friendly lines. Despite his 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, SGT Murphy moved forward through dense foliage and personally killed 3 hostile soldiers with his rifle. His determination enabled his men to break out of the trap and overwhelm the insurgent force. SGT Murphy's courageous actions and extraordinary heroism earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge
Parachutist Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Sergeant Kenneth E. Murphy (ASN: RA-6800817), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 502d Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. 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.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 1376 (March 27, 1967)