Date of Award: February 26, 1946
Conflict: World War II
Branch: U.S. Army

Pfc. Frederick Murphy spent most of his life in and around Boston, and even after his death in the line of duty during World War II, he remains a hero not only in the city but the entire state of Massachusetts. Murphy served with the Medical Detachment, 259th Infantry, 65th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army in 1945. On March 18, the fateful day of Murphy’s ultimate sacrifice for his country, his unit was engaging in battle at the Siegfried Line in Saarlautern, Germany, when powerful mines ripped through the men, causing severe casualties. Murphy fearlessly risked his life to tend to the wounded troops stranded on the minefield, and in the end, gave his life attempting to save his comrades.

Citation: “In spite of his grievous wounds, he struggled on with his work, refusing to be evacuated and crawling from man to man administering to them while in great pain and bleeding profusely. He was killed by the blast of another mine which he had dragged himself across in an effort to reach still another casualty.”